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1867 
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PRACTICAL EXERCISES 



ON 



FRENCH PHRASEOLOGY. 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES 

ON 

FRENCH PHRASEOLOGY: 



TO WHICH IS ADDED, 



A LEXICON OF IDIOMATIC YERBS. 



By ISIDOEE BEASSEUE, 

FRENCH ICTOR TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES; 

PROFESSOR OF THE FRENCH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE IN KING'S COLLEGE AND 

queen's COLLEGE, LONDON; 

EXAMINER TO THE ROYAL COLLEGE OP SURGEONS, HARROW SCHOOL, 

king's SCHOOL, CANTERBURY, ETC. 




FIFTH EDITION, REVISED. 



LONDOJS": 

LONGMANS, GREEN AND CO. 

1867. 






By Transfer 

D. C. Public Library 

APR a ^ 1933 



LONDO 
PRINTED BY WERTHEIMET?, LEA AND CO., 
CIRCUS PLACE, FINSBURT CIECUS 






PKEFACE. 



It has been remarked, that though the French 
language is an object of much attention in Eng- 
land, the English speak it with less accuracy than 
any other nation. Whether this be true or not, it 
may be safely asserted, that the knowledge of most 
learners, in this country, seldom extends to the 
Phraseology of that -truly idiomatical language. 

Many years^ experience having convinced the 
compiler of the present work that a judicious 
selection of French idioms was still wanting, he 
now presents those students who have gone 
through the elements of the language, with 
Practical Exercises on its Phraseology, which 
can hardly fail to prove useful to them. 

As the object in view is solely to exercise the 
student in the idiomatic peculiarities of the lan- 
guage, methodical arrangement has been set aside 
as useless in a book in which nothing is theo- 
retical; and in this, the compiler trusts he may 
obtain the approbation of those judicious teachers, 



VI PREFACE. 

whose constant efforts are directed to combine 
practice with theory, a plan which, experience has 
proved, can be followed beyond the mere me- 
chanism of the language. 

Our Syntax prepares, so to speak, the student 
for the peculiarities of the French phraseology — 
a phraseology which is perfectly idiomatic, and 
upon which exercises are indispensable. The utility 
of practical exercises upon our idioms is daily felt 
by those who have an opportunity of observing 
how frequently expressions are heard in the mouth 
of the French, the figurative sense of which would 
not be understood by a stranger who hears them 
for the first time. How, for example, would he 
know that ^ Vous etes orfevre, Mr, Josse/ means 
^You do not speak disinterestedly,^ — that ^a la 
guerre comme a la guerre,^ is equivalent to ^let 
us be pleased any how/ in the mouth of people 
who accommodate themselves with good humour 
to circumstances! Would he understand, that 
' Elle a ete a la fontaine de Jouvence/ signifies 
'She is looking younger again,' — that 'jetez- 
vous votre langue aux chiens/ means ' Carit you 
guess? do you give it up?' When he hears said 
of some one, that he is 'tire a quatre epingles,' 
would he be able to guess that it means 'neatly 
dressed?' If any one remarks to him that there are 



PREFACE. Vll 

'fagots et fagots, would lie know that it was 
equivalent to 'all men or things are not alike "^^ 
Again — Agnes, the heroine of one of Moliere's best 
comedies, is a model of simplicity: — thence the 
expression, ^ Elk fait T Agnes/ in speaking of a 
girl who affects a simplicity which is not natural to 
her. But how would an Englishman, without 
explanation, see in the proper name of Agnes, 
thus applied, the synonyme of ' simpleton ?' 

To this class of phrases, which belong especially 
to our own idiom, may be added the familiar 
proverbs in the two languages. Although they 
do not speak more commonly in France than in 
England, like Sancho-Panza, in proverbs, still a 
great number of them slip into familiar conversa- 
tion, and consequently it is not without advantage 
to assign these a place in a collection of idioms. 

There is another class of idioms — the most im- 
portant, not only because of its being by far the 
largest, but likewise that it comprehends all those 
expressions peculiar to French phraseology, that 
Cannot be placed among either of the preceding 
classes. 

In the following exercises, the idiomatical part 
of each sentence is given with the verb in the 
infinitive only (except where a peculiar expression 
is used), the student himself applying the proper 



Vlll PREFACE. 

person^ tense, and mood, as the case may require. 
Thus : to assist him in rendering into French, ^I 
have more than once tried his friendship,' he will 
find : ^ Mettre Vamitie de quelqu'un a Vepreuve.' 
Here the practical part will at once be seen; 
thus, Mettre Vamitie de quelqu'un a Vepreuve, 
must, viva-voce first, and in the exercise, when 
afterwards correctly written out, be changed into 
tTai mis plus d'une fois son amitie a Vepreuve, 
This may be carried still further : in the viva-voce 
exercise, the teacher would do well to alter in 
various ways the person, tense, and mood of the 
English sentence; the student having only, in re- 
construing it each time^ to attend to alterations 
thus made. 

The compiler takes this opportunity to acknow- 
ledge, that among many valuable books out of 
which the present selection has been made, Duver- 
ger's and Dufief ^s Idioms^ and the latter^s excel- 
lent Z^ic^zo/zary, have been most largely consulted. 

King's College, London. 



PEACTIOAL EXEEOISES 

ON 

FRENCH PHRASEOLOGY. 



EXEECISE I. 

Let US resume our discourse.* 

He went back much, disappointed. 

My picture was finished at four sittings. 

He was crying like a child that has lost Ids rattle. 

One must suit one's self to the times. 

6 We want one more glass. 

7 I shall be short with them. 

8 I was within musket- shot. 

9 I advise you not to rail at him. 

10 I am overcome with sleep. 

1 1 When he came, he was very destitute. 

12 He treated him with the greatest contempt. 
/l3 Let the worst come to the worst, he would still 

have a hundred a-year. 



1 Eevenir a ses moutons. 

2 — un pied de nez. 

3 — en quatre seances. 

4 Crier comme nn avengle 

qui a perdu son baton. 

5 A la guerre comme a la 

guerre. 

6 II nous manque encore un 

verre. 



7 Trancher court avec quel- 

qu'uji. 

8 Etre a portee de mousquet. 

9 Marcher sur le pied a quel- 

qu'un. 

10 Le sommeil m'accable. 

11 Avoir les dents longues. 

12 Traiter quelqu'un du liaut 

en bas. 

13 Au pis aller, .... 



* This expression is taken from an old comedy, called V Avocat Patelin, 
in which a clothier glvingf his evidence against a shepherd who had stolen 
his sheep, repeatedly interrupts himself to talk about some cloth which the 
defendant's lawyer had likewise swindled him of. The judge, who cannot 
understand such galimatias, repeatedly recalls him to his skeejp. Hence the 
proverhial expression. 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise II. 



1 What a simpleton you are to believe them. 

2 He had sworn them to secrecy. 

3 His memoirs are very much sought after. 

4 If you have a mind, we will call upon him. 
6 It is by no means a matter of consequence. 

6 He makes use of my name, yet he is quite a 

stranger to me. 

7 That is an elegant undress. 

8 He pays us frequent visits. 

9 When I have a house of my own, come and see me. 

10 If you like it, you are very welcome to it. 

1 1 As for myself, I hope I shall not meet with a rebuff. 

12 It is no business of mine ; he must return them. 
13^1 am not come here to trifle away my time. 

14 He plagues them from morning to night. 



1 Que Yous etes bon de . . . . 

2 Faire jurer le secret a quel- 

qu'un. 

3 On s'arraclie ses memoires. 

4 Si le coeur vous en dit, .... 

5 Cela n'y fait ni chaud ni 

froid. 

6 Se reclamer de quelqu'un — 

ne connaitre quelqu'un ni 
d'Eve ni d'Adam. 



7 — un deshabille galant. 

8 Faire des visites assidues. 

9 Avoir un chez-soi. 

10 S'il vous fait plaisir, il est 

a votre service. 

11 N'en avoir pas le dementi. 

12 N'entrer point la-dedans. 

13 — pour enfiler des perles. 

14 Faire enrager quelqu'un. 



ON FREIs^CH PHBASEOLOGY. 3 

EXEECISE III. 

1 I shall go, though I am chid for it. 

2 I flatter myself that they will do it for my sake, 

3 Come, we must return to our work. 

4 What will all this come to ? 

5 Now, I must pay you; what does all this 

come to ? 

6 Have you any commands for me ? 

7 I had lost all command over my horse. 

8 Pray, when you write, commend me to him. 

9 Do like us, keep good company. 

10 My father requests the favour of your company 

to dinner. 

1 1 What will compensate them for the loss of their 

t^e ? 

12 That is beyond my comprehension. 

13 1 fear I shall laugh ; I cannot keep my countenance 

when I hear him. 

14 I know no longer which way to tiu?n myself. 



1 — quitte pour etre gronde. 

2 Aimer a croire — Pour 

ramour de . . . . 

3 Reprendre le collier de 

misere. 

4 Comment cela finira-t-il ? 

5 A combien revient le tout ? 

6 Avoir des ordres a donner a 

quelqu'un. 

7 N'etre plus maitre de . . . 



8 Kappeler quelqu'un au sou- 

venir de . . . . 

9 Frequenter bonne com- 

pagnie. 

10 Prier de faire a quelqu'un 

Tamitie de . . . . 

11 Dedommager de . . . . 

12 Cela me passe. 

13 G-arder son serieux. 

14 Ne phis savoir sur quel pied 

danser. 
2 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES. 



Exercise IV. 



1 You see that I came off cheaply. 

2 It is only a hasty sketch. 

3 Let me manage matters ; should he return to the 

charge, he will see fine sport. 

4 He and I are friends of old standing. 

5 There is the king ; hats off. 

6 My horse has a very easy pace. 

7 Excuse my glove. 

8 That man is nothing but talk. 

9 I will have no kind of business with those people. 
10 He gives me sometimes a sharp answer. 

Ill don't know upon which of these to pitch. 

12 His sister is tolerably handsome. 

13 In order to be satisfied about it, I wrote to them- 

14 1 am no judge of wine. 

15 Be sure not to handle it. 

16 He will be the support of your old age. 



1 En etre quitte a Lon 

marche. 

2 Une ebauche faite a la hate. 

3 Laisser faire quelqu'un — y 

revenir — voir beau jeu. 

4 Etre amis de vieille date. 

5 A bas les chapeaux. 

6 — r allure fort douce. 

7 L'amitie passe le gant. 

8 N' avoir que du babil. 



9 — a demeler avec . . . 

10 — un coup de dent. 

11 — au quel m'arreter. 

12 Etre assez bien. 

13 Afin d'en avoir le coeur 

net. 

14 Ne pas se connaitre en vins. 

15 Ne pas s'aviser d'y toucher. 

16 Etre un jour le baton de 

vieHlesse de quelqu'un. 



ON FBENCH PHRASEOLOGY. 



ExEPvCISE V. 



1 Do what is most wanted. 

2 He is not sparing of his compliments to people. 

3 She has already a will of her own. 

4 He will not abate an inch. 

5 You do not understand me at all. 

6 While these things were doing, I received your 

letter. 

7 We are not fond of disturbances. 

8 He treated them very rudely. 

9 She is just in her teens. 

10 He takes advantage of your good nature. 

11 ProvisiolLS were extravagantly dear. 

12 The body lay in state. 

13 1 will not say either good or evil of him. 

14 He shall know me. 

15 The thing is to know whether he is returned. 

16 1 was going to make a fine piece of work, if you 

had not come to prevent me. 



1 — ce qui presse le plus. 

2 N'etre pas cliiclie de faire des 

compliments aux gens. 

3 Avoir des ^olontes. 

4 En demordre. 

5 N'entrer pas dans la pensee 

de quelqu un. 

6 Sur ces entrefaites .... 

7 N' aimer pas les eclats. 

8 Manquer bien grossierement 

a quelqu'un. 

9 Entrer dan& sa treizieme 

annee. 



10 Abuser de la bonte de 

quelqu' un. 

11 Les denrees etaient bors de 

prix. 

12 Etre expose sur un lit de 

parade. 

13 Ne parler de quelqu' un ni 

en bien, ni en mal. 
14: Je lui apprendrai qui je 
suis. 

15 II s'agit de savoir si . . . 

16 Faire de belle besogne . . . 

Eetenir quelqu' un . . . 



PEACTICAL EXEECISES 



EXEBCISE VI. 

1 There I shall have them. 

2 He is still in the king's favour. 

3 He did all he could to put me on the wrong scent. 

4 Do not be silly ; accept what is offered to you. 

5 They laid everything waste with fire and sword. 

6 They made more fuss about it than it deserved. 

7 I am willing enough. 

8 She is frightened out of her wits. 

9 He lives there in clover. 

1 They seem to interest themselves in your behalf. 

11 He is always as neat as hands can make him. 

12 1 shall have him thrashed soundly. 

13 "Why does he wear his arm in a sling? 

14 I put up with everything. / 

15 He is bitter against me. / 

16 My heart is still big with sorrow concerning it. 

17 1 was obliged to retrace my steps. ^ 



1 C'est la que je les attends. 

2 Etre toujours bien aupres de 

quelqu'un. 

3 Donner le change a quel- 

qu'un. 

4 Ne pas faire la bete. 

5 Mettre tout a feu et a sang. 

6 II n'y avait pas de quoi 

fouetter un cbat. 

7 Ne demander pas mieux. 

8 Perdre absolument la tete. 

9 Etre comme le poisson dans 

I'eau. 



10 Entrer dans les interets de 

quelqu'un. 

11 Etre toujours tire a quatre 

epingles. 

12 Faire etrilier quelqu'un de 

la bonne msniere. 

13 Porter le bra? en ecbarpe. 

14 S'accommoder de tout. 

15 Etre acbarne contre quel- 

qu'un. 

16 En avoir eicore le cocur 

gros. 

17 Revenir sur ses pas. 



ON FRENCH PHRASEOLOGY. 



gave 



Exercise YII. 

1 He thinks notliing of doing that. 

2 They could eat as much as they liked ; I 

them a plentiful entertainment. 

3 He has put every one of his children out to some 

trade. The eldest is apprenticed to a hat- 
maker ; and he has just bound the youngest to 
a bookseller. 
i All that is idle talk. 

5 I did not lose by the bargain, for it is better than 

mine. 

6 He looks silly. 

7 I said it bluntly. 

8 1 think we are losing our way. 

9 Eow soon will you come and see me ? 

10 One with another, they are worth a pound. 

1 1 Have you hit it ? No ; I am far from the mark. 

12 It would not become him to concern himself in 

tiat business. 

13 Eve:y man for his money, and you have no fault 

to find. 

14 The little she had, her son spent. 



1 Faire une chose avec la plus 

grande hcilite. 

2 Etre a mene Trailer a 

bouche qie veux-tu ? 

3 Faire appreidre un metier — 

Etre en apprentissage — 
Mettre en ipprentissage. 

4 Autant en eq^porte le vent. 

5 Ne rien perire au change. 

6 Avoir I'air b^te. 

7 De but (or ktber, de hutte) 

en blanc. 



8 S'egarer. 

9 Dans combien de temps . . . 

10 L'un portant 1' autre . . . 

11 Y etre — En etre a cent 

Heues. 

12 Entrer pour quelque chose 

dans une affaire. 

13 — pour son ecot — N' avoir 

rien a redire. 

14 — son fils I'a mange. 



PEACTICAI* EXEKCISES 



EXEECISE VIII. 



1 You go a snaiFs pace. 

2 At last, we have concluded the bargain. 

3 Do not forget to pay the postage of that letter. 

4 He is not much the better for it. 

5 "We don't make a stranger of you. 

6 Let us hear this story out. 

7 He was leaning upon the table. 

8 You do not keep time. 

9 I think I can do it ; it is not a very difficult thir 

10 She is as good as he. 

1 1 Here is another piece of news. 

12 Short reckonings make long friends. 

1 3 Your son will have his board and washing. 

14 I found the door shut. 

15 He is sincere. 

1 6 We went a round-about way ; that is the c^se of 

our being late. 

1 7 Not knowing at all what to do, he set /ip as a 

teacher of languages. 

18 He speaks broken French. 



1 Marcher a pas de tortue. 

2 Faire affaire. 

3 Affranclur tine lettre. 

4 — pas beaucoup plus gras. 

5 Ne pas traiter quelqu'un en 

etranger. 

6 Ecouter jusqu'au bout. 

7 Avoir les coudes appuyes 

sur la table. 

8 Ne pas jouer en mesure. 

9 Ce n'est pas la mer a boire. 
10 — autant que lui. 



11 Yoici bien une /autre chan- 

son. / 

12 Les bons cornVtes font les 

bons amis. / 

13 Etre nourri et/blanchi. 

14 Trouver visa^ de bois. 

15 Y aller de bovine foi. 

16 Prendre un detour — Etre 

en retard. 

17 Ne sacbant oil donner de 

la tete, il se fit . . . . 

18 Ecorcber le frauQais. 



OJS FEENCH PHRASEOLOGY. 



EXEECISE IX. 



1 They have taken it all within a trifle. 

2 He takes great liberties. 

3 I remember, and as a proof of it, they told me you 

were there at the time. 

4 I delivered your letter in person. 

5 Let him sleep himself sober. 

6 Has she, at last, recovered her spirits ? 

7 He is able to go now without anybody's help. 

8 He expects a share of the booty. 

9 What a bright sunshine ! 
10 He seized the opportunity. 
Ill am always laying out money. 

12 What would you advise me to do ? I am for send- 

ing him back to his friends. 

13 This young man swears shockingly. 

14 Am I in your way? 

15 His servant tells gross falsehoods. 

1 6 Have you a liking to it now ? 

1 7 You will do very well to break off there. 

18 1 underwent a severe trial. 



1 — a peu de chose pres. 

2 S'emanciper. 

3 — a telles enseignes que . . . 

4 Remettre une lettre en main 

propre. 

5 Cuver son vin. 

6 Reprendre sa gaite. 

7 Yoler de ses propres ailes. 

8 S'attendre a avoir part au 

gateau. 

9 Quel beau soleil ! 

10 Prendre la balle au bond. 



11 Avoir toujours 1' argent a 

la main. 

12 Etre d'avis de . . . . 

13 — comme un charretier 

embourbe. 

14 Gener quelqu'un. 

15 Mentir comme un arracbeur 

de dents. 

16 Le coeur vous en dit-il a 

present ? 

17 En demeurer la. 

18 Subir une rude epreuve. 



10 



PBACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise X. 

1 I am weary of maintaining that idle man. 

2 They say he is worth ten thousand pounds. 

3 I had already run through half the history when 

you came in. 

4 That child always cries before he is hurt. 

5 They attacked me on my weak side. 

6 How far had I got ? 

7 He has only to give the finishing stroke to his work. 

8 They have squandered away their fortune. 

9 The whole town was in a commotion. 

10 Certainly, I knew better than to send it back. 

11 This harshness is not to be supported. 

12 Are you quite in earnest when you say that ? 

13 1 saw him once at our fencing academy. 

14 He carried it unanimously. 

15 "What can I say? I am thunderstruck. 

16 1 don't agree with you. 

17 You always put the cart before the horse. 



1 — avoir sur les bras .... 

2 Etre riche de . . . . 

3 En etredeja a . . . . 

4 — avant qu'on I'ecorclie. 

5 Prendre quelqu'un par son 

endroit sensible. 

6 Oti en etais-je ? 

7 Mettre la derniere main a . . 

8 Dissiper gon bien. 

9 — en rair. 

10 Certes, je n'avais 
de 



11 Etre d'une durete insnp" 

portable. 

12 Est-ce tout de bon que .... 

13 — salle d'armes. 

14 L'emporter tout d'une voix. 

15 Que voulez-vous que .... 

Les bras m'en tombent. 

16 Ne pas etre de I'avis de 

quelqu'un. 

17 Mettre la cbarrue devant 

les boeufs. 



oisr ruENCH pheaseology. 



11 



EXEECISE XI. 

1 I threatened Mm to provide myself somewhere 

else, and he told me I was very welcome to do 
so. 

2 He asks for his money with might and main. 

3 It is a wretched thing. 

4 She sings most wretchedly. 

5 You were wrong to enter on so delicate a matter. 

6 Did you not perceive that he was flattering you 

grossly ? 

7 I am quite spent : I split my sides with laughter. 

8 He pretends to great skill in everything. 

9 I see plainly he pretends not to hear me. 

10 Nothing is the matter with him; only he has 

whims now and then. 

11 Tit for tat. 

12 When you shall think fit. 

13 It is an ill wind that blows nobody good. 

14 He is very melancholy this evening. 

15 There is no difference. 

16 To what purpose ? 

17 I have changed for the worse. 

18 He told us a lame story. 



1 — se foumir ailleurs — mettre 

a quelqu'un le marche a la 
main. 

2 — a cor et a cri. 

3 Cela fait pitie. 

4 Chanter a faire pitie. 

6 Entamer une matiere cha- 
touilleuse. 

6 Donner de I'encensoir par le 

nez a quelqu'un. 

7 K'en pouvoir plus : — Etonf- 

fer de rire. 

8 Faire I'entendu en tout. 

9 Faire semblant de . . . . 



10 Avoir des lunes. 

1 1 A bon chat, bon rat. 

12 Quand bon yous semblera. 

13 A quelque chose malheur 

est bon. 

14 — triste comme un bonnet 

de nuit. 

15 C'est bonnet blanc et blanc 

bonnet. 

16 A quoi bon? 

17 Changer son cheval borgne 

contre un aveugle. 

18 — un conte borgne. 



12 



PEACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise XII. 

1 His breath smells very strong of tobacco. 

2 He speaks, right or wrong. 

3 One more debt paid. 

4 He is mad with, passion : I have a great deal to 

suffer from his temper. 

5 It is the utmost. 

6 He says it on every occasion. 

7 I know Mrs. Gr ; she is a most excellent 

woman. 

8 You may, without fear, let him go his own way. 

9 He moves no more than a post. 

10 I set all my people to work to discover what ac- 
quaintances he had. 
Ill will humble his pride. 

12 He gave full scope to his mind. 

13 He is getting confused. 

14 Waiter, bring the bill. 

15 That is a little too free. 

16 That girl looks too bold. 

17 John, a knife and fork for the gentleman. 



1 Puer le tabac a pleine bouclie. 

2 II dit tout ce qui lui vient 

par la bouche. 

3 Encore un trou de boucbe. 

4 Bouillir de colere — Bour- 

rasque. 

5 — tout le bout du monde. 

6 — a tout bout de cbamp. 

7 — une bien brave femme. 

8 Laisser la bride sur le cou a 

quelqu'un. 

9 Ne se remuer non plus qu'- 

ime bucbe. 



10 Mettre ses gens en cam- 

pagne pour deterrer les . . 

1 1 Rabaisser le caquet de quel- 

qu'un. 

12 Donner carrier e a son 

esprit. 

13 Perdre la carte. 

14 — la carte pay ante. 

15 — un peu cavalier. 

16 Avoir I'air trop cavalier. 

17 — mettez un convert pour 

monsieur. 



ON FBENCH PHUASEOLOGY. 



13 



Exercise XIII. 

1 I do not choose to do that ; I have my reasons 

for it. 

2 I speak upon good grounds. 

3 See now what you get by disobedience. 

4 Miss A rides well. 

5 He is equal to any one. 

6 A good name is above wealth. 

7 He is a blundering fellow. 

8 Trade is very dull now. 

9 He took you for his text. 

10 No more of that. 

1 1 Every man has his hobby. 

12 Let us try again. 

13 When sorrow is asleep, wake it not. 

14 We shall see what mettle he is made of. 

1 5 He shall have none of it. 

16 Put on your shoes and stockings. 

17 He gets on in the world. 

18 He always finds rubs in his way. 



1 Ne pas Youloir faire une 

cliose ; et pour cause. 

2 — avec connaissance de cause. 

3 Yoila ce que c'est que d' avoir 

desobei. 

4 Etre bonne cavaliere. 

5 Ne le ceder a personne. 

6 Bonne renommee vaut mieux 

que ceinture doree. 

7 — une tete sans cervelle. 

8 — va bien peu. 

9 Se mettre sur le chapitre de 

quelqu'un. 



10 En Yoila assez sur ce cba- 

pitre. 

1 1 — a sa marotte ; or, son dada. 

12 Eetoumer a la charge. 

13 !N'eveillez pas le chat qui 

dort. 

14 — de quel bois il se chauffe. 

15 Ce n'est pas pour lui que 

le four chauffe. 
IS Se chausser. 

17 Faire son chemin. 

18 Trouver des pierres en son 

chemin. 



14 



PEACTICAL EXEECISES 



EXEECISE XIV. 

1 That teases him. 

2 I am troubled with a cold. 

3 He cringes now. 

4 Love me, love my dog. 

5 Her features are not regular. 

6 He has retired to his country seat. 

7 I set the bird at liberty. 

8 He knows nothing of the world. 

9 Come, shew yourself a man. 

10 I must disclose my sentiments to you. 

1 1 He is born to a good fortune. 

12 He loves his business. 

13 1 see I shall go without my dinner. 

14 A police officer apprehended him. 

15 How long has he been married. 

16 1 purpose staying there a fortnight. 

17 I am at the height of joy. 



CMcaner. 

JT'ai iin rhume qui me cLi- 

cane. 
Faire le cMen couchant. 
Qui aime Bertrand aime son 

chien. 
Avoir une figure chiffonnee. 
Aller planter des choux. 
Donner la clef des champs 



8 N' avoir jamais perdu de vue 
le clocher de son village. 



9 Montrer qu'on a du coeur. 

10 Ouvrir son coeur a quel- 

qu'un. 

11 Etre ne coiffe. 

12 Avoir le coeur au metier. 

1 3 Diner par coeur. 

14 Mettre la main sur le collet 

a quelqu'un. 

15 Combien y a-t-il que . . . 

16 Compter rester . . . 

17 — au comble de . . . 



ON FEEN'CH PHEASEOLOGT. 



15 



EXEECISE XV. 

1 The measure is full. 

2 Come to-niglit, we shall have a small party of 

friends. 

3 I am inclined to believe it is a feigned sickness ; 

he often shams sickness. 

4 How impertinently he retorts upon you ! 

5 He has a keen appetite. 

6 We found him an agreeable companion. 

7 I have nothing to do with him. 

8 We will buy them jointly. 

9 You have an even eye. 

10 I cannot make it out. 

11 Add, ^an full of aU demands.'' 

12 If my servant does it again, I will discharge him. 

13 After all, where is it? 

14 He does not charge too much for that. 

15 We shall begin from next week. 

16 He does everything out of his own head. 

17 I object to it, because it would establish a precedent. 



1 — ail comble. 

2 Eire en petit comite. 

3 — maladie de commaiide — 

Faire le malade. 

4 Comme il yous repond ! 

5 Manger comme quatre. 

6 — d'un commerce agreable. 

7 — rien de commun avec lui. 

8 — a frais commiins. 

9 — le compas dans I'oeil. 



10 jiS''y comprendre rien. 

11 — ''pour solde de compte." 

1 2 Donner son compte a . . . 

13 Au bont du compte . . . 

14 Ne pas compter trop pour . . . 

15 — a compter de . . . 

16 Ne prendi'e conseil que de 

sa tete. 

1 7 S'opposer a quelque chose . . . 

— Tirer a consequence. 



16 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise XVI. 

1 Everything is against him. 

2 He is a great story-teller. 

3 What a story ! 

4 I had as soon read idle stories as such trash. 

5 No one would be bail for him. 

6 I have done it through compulsion. 

7 Your cousin misconstrues everything. 

8 I eat every morning a couple of eggs in the shell. 

9 They went each about their business. 

10 As you have brewed, so you must drink. 

1 1 This coat is out at the elbows. 

12 He is forced to put up with many things un- 

pleasant to his feelings. 

13 Do not you feel the wind through those chinks ? 

14 He is striving to supplant your friend; 

15 The first step is the only difficulty. 

1 6 One act does not make a habit. 



1 Conspirer centre . . . 

2 Feseur de contes. 

3 Quel cont^ ! 

4 Des contes a dormir debout. 
o Cautionner quelqu'un. 

6 Faire nne chose par con- 

trainte. 

7 Prendre tout a contre-sens. 

8 — a la coque. 

9 S'en aller chacun de son 

cote. 



10 Comme on fait son lit, on se 

couche. 

11 — a les coudes perces. 

12 Avaler des couleuvres. 

13 — vent coulis. 

14 Courir sur les brises de 

quelqu'un. 

15 II n'y a que le premier pas 

qui coute. 
16. Une fois n'est pas coutume. 



ON FEENCH PHRASEOLOGY. 



17 



Exercise XVII. 

1 A burnt cMld dreads the fire. 

2 Make haste, you are ardently expected.' 

3 Somebody tripped up his heels. 

4 111 weeds grow apace. 

5 She grows handsomer every day. 

6 That is not of his own invention. 

7 That country abounds with game. 

8 The least said is the soonest mended. 

9 Come and see the children tumble on the turf, 

10 I outwitted him. 

11 Do not jog so. 

.12 I have a prior title. 

13 Will you have any more. 

14 They left all at sixes and sevens. 

15 At last he is gone : it is a great riddance. 

16 That actor has a good delivery. 

17 I only ask for what I have laid out. 

18 Button your waistcoat and coat: you are very 

untidy. 



1 Chat echaude craint I'eau 

froide. 

2 — on n'a qu'iin cri apres 

YOUS. 

3 Donner le croc en jambe a 

quelqn'un. 

4 Mauvaise herbe croit tou- 

jours. 

5 Ne faire que croitre et em- 

beUir. 

6 — de son crn. 

7 — est plein de gibier. 

8 Trop gratter cuit, trop parler 

nuit. 



9 ■ — faire la culbute. 

10 Darner le pion a quelqu'un; 

or, etre plus fin que quel- 
qu'un. 

11 Se dandiner. 

12 Etre le premier en date. 

13 — davantage. 

14 a la debandade. 

15 — c'est un grand debarras. 

16 — un beau debit. 

17 Ne demander que ses de- 

bourses. 

18 tout debraille. 



18 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise XVIII. 



1 



I have just attended tlie funeral of the late Doctor 

N- 

Now I do not know my way. 
All is not lost that is delayed. 
It is coming one day after the fair. 
She looks lady-like. 

6 He is subject to absence of mind. 

7 The least thing takes off his attention. 

8 No sooner said than done. 

9 He made his words good. 

10 These gentlemen are making fun of you. 

1 1 He was near death. 

1 2 They love their home. 

13 1 will have nobody know what passes in my family. 

14 That man has the misfortune to be hated by 

everybody. 

15 The maid is cleaning your room. 

1 6 Fortune favours him when he thinks least of it. 

17 Smooth water runs deep. 



1 Eendre les derniers devoirs 

a feu le . . . 

2 Etre desoriente. 

3 Ce qui est differe n'est pas 

perdu. 

4 C'est de la moutarde apres 

diner. 

5 Avoir I'air distingue. 

6 — distractions. 

7 Distraire. 

8 Aussitot dit, aussitot fait. 

9 Ce qui fut dit fut fait. 

10 Se divertir aux depens de 
quelqu'un. 



11 Etre a deux doigts de la 

mort. 

1 2 Aimer son domestique. 

13 Ne pas vouloir qu'on sache 

ce qui se fait dans son 
domestique. 

14 Avoir le don de se faire 

hair de . . . 

15 Faire une chambre. 

16 Les biens lui viennent en 

dormant. 

17 II n'y a pire eau que celle 

qui dort. 



ON FBENCH PHRASEOLOGY. 



19 



Exercise XIX. 

1 It is amusing to see him assume consequential airs. 

2 I manage tliat affair prudently. 

3 Children must be used gently. 

4 I did it inconsiderately : I really thought so. 

5 The wind is in the rainy quarter. 

6 Has he, at last, subdued his passion ? 

7 It brings grist to the mill. 

8 I took him aside. 

9 He commanded raw soldiers. 

10 Nothing better can be done. 

11 It is decided that I shall not set out. 

12 Draw in your shoulders, 

13 He has been drawn into a bad affair. 

4 He knows not what to do with himself. 

15 Don't mind me. 

16 He becomes stout. 

17 The matter is not so easy as you imagine. 



1 Faire le gros dos ; or, il 

tranche de 1' important. 

2 Aller doucement en besogne. 

3 11 faiit mener les enfants par 

la douceur. 

4 — par megarde : je m'en 

doutais bien. 

5 Le terns est a I'eau. 

6 Mettre de I'eau dans son 

vin. 

7 Fair venir I'eau au moulin. 

8 Prendre quelqu'un a I'ecart. 

9 — mal aguerris. 



10 Apres cela il faut tirer 

Techelle. 

11 11 est ecrit que . . . 

12 Effacer les epaules. 

13 On I'a embarque dans . . . 

14 Etre embarrasse de sa per- 

sonne. 

15 Ne pas s'embarrasser de 

quelqu'un. 

16 Prendre de 1' embonpoint. 

17 Cela ne s'emmancbe pas 

comme vous pensez. 



20 



PKACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise XX. 

1 Wlien do you remove ? 

2 Mrs. D is gone out'sliopping. 

3 Pray keep your temper. 

4 He will pay dear for his rashness. 

5 That stuff has both sides alike. 

6 He drinks like a fish. 

7 I have taken him upon liking. 

8 It is my first trial. 

9 He is lame of one leg. 
10 You murder his name. 

Ill have lost my money thereby. 

12 1 rode post to Dover, but arrived too late. 

1 3 He has left a good place for a bad one. 

14 That has no precedent. 

1 5 My lease is out. 

1 6 He is greatly improved of late. 

17 All men or things are not alike. 

18 In what trim you are ! 

19 1 was even ready to beat him. 

20 He is taking an afternoon's nap. 



1 Demenager. 

2 Aller faire des emplettes. 

3 Ne pas s'emporter. 

4 Payer la foUe enchere de sa 

temerite. 

5 — n'a ni endroit ni en vers. 

6 — comme une eponge. 

7 — a I'essai. 

8 — coup d'essai. 

9 Etre estropie a la jambe. 
10 Estropier. 



11 En etre pour son argent. 

12 Courir a franc etrier. 

13 Devenir d' Eve que meunier. 

14 Cela et sans exemple. 

15 Mon bail est expire. 

16 II s'est bien faQonne depuis 

pen. 

17 II y a fagots et fagots.* 

18 Comme vous voila fagotte. 

19 Faillir a battre quelqu'un. 

20 Faire la meridienne. 



* This expression is taken from Le MMecine mdlgri lui, of Molifere; 
Sganarelle makes nse of it in the midst of his endeavours to establish the 
superiority of hi^ fagots over others. 



01^ FRENCH PHEASEOLOGY. 



21 



EXEBCISE XXI. 

1 They fell upon everything. 

2 That man has everything at command. 

3 He walks three miles every morning before break- 

fast. 

4 He is a man easily managed. 

5 If you can spare that book, lend it me. 

6 I need not go thither. 

7 If that little boy is froward, bring him to me.' 

8 An accident has well nigh balked my expectation. 

9 Far from that. 

10 It is worth while to see Perlet in that play. 

11 He keeps everybody at a distance. 

12 It freezes very hard. 

13 Make hay while the sun shines. 

14 It draws a vast concourse of people. 

15 It is trusting to a broken reed. 

1 6 He is a chip of the old block. 

17 It is a shallow artifice. 

18 Light come, light go. 



1 Faire main basse sur tout. 

2 Faire la pluie et le beau 

temps. 

3 Faire trois milles. 

4 — dont on fait ce qu'on veut. 

5 Si vous n'avez que faire 

de. . . 

6 Je n'ai que faire de . . . 

7 Faire le mutin. 

8 Peu s'en fallut que . . . 

Frustrer I'attente de 
quelqu'un. 

9 Tant s'en faut que cela soit. 



10 II faut voir ... 

11 Ne se familiariser avec per- 

sonne. 

12 — a pierre fendre. 

13 II faut battre le fer pendant 

qu'il est cbaud. 

14 On y court comme au feu. 

15 Bien fou qui s'y fie. 

16 II est fils de son pere. 

17 Une finesse cousue de fil 

blanc. 

18 Ce qui yient de la flute s'en 

retourne au tambour. 



22 



PRACTICAIi EXERCISES 



Exercise XXII. 



1 One must look before one leaps. 

2 The most difficult part is over. 

3 It is as dark as pitch, there. 

4 That horse has run his race well. 

5 He would like to do what he pleases. 

6 I avoid places of resort. 

7 He will sing it in the midst of your jollity. 

8 Take care : I shall box your ears. 

9 It is quite new to me. 

10 Send me my money as fast as you receive it, 

1 1 "What business had he there ? 

1 2 Does he take us for idiots ? 

1 3 At present he has no settled home. 

14 He does not see in the least. 

1 5 He is very stout. 

16 1 am tired of dancing attendance. 

17 That will bring envy upon you. 

18 They are both cast in the same mould. 



1 II y faut regarder a deux fois. 

2 Le plus fort est fait. 

3 II y fait noir comme dans un 

four. 

4 — bien fourni sa carriere. 

5 Avoir ses coudees franches. 

6 Fuir les lieux frequentes. 

7 — entre la poire et le fro- 



8 Frotter les oreilles k quel- 
qu'un. 



9 C'est 



moi du fruit 



pour 
nouveau. 

10 — au fur et a mesure que . . . 

11 Qu'allait-il faire dans cette 

galere ?* 

12 Se moquer des gens. 

13 — gite assure. 

14 II ne voit goutte. 

15 Gras comme un moine. 

16 — faire le pied de grue. 

17 Cela vous fera des envieux. 

18 Qui a fait I'un a fait 1' autre. 



* In Les Fourberies de Scapin, of Molifere, Scapin, in order to draw money 
from G^ronte, the father of his master, tells him that the latter is retained 
prisoner on board a Turkish vessel (galere), where curiosity had induced 
him to go; and that he must inevitably he carried off to Algiers as a slave, 
unless the father pays a certain sum for his ransom. To all the rogue says 
to move the old man, and induce him to eive the money, the father replies: 
*' Qu'allait-il faire dans cette GaUre? " The repetition appeared so pleasant, 
that it was soon in everybody's mouth, and became a proverb. 



ON FEENCH PHRASEOLOGY. 



23 



EXEECISE XXIII. 



1 Opportunity makes a thief. 

2 I do my best. 

3 We will keep that meat till it gets a taste of venison. 

4 I deny the charge. 

5 She married a gentleman. 

6 That was sufficient to persuade us. 

7 If he is not a rogue, he is next a-kin to it. 

8 It is a borrowed name. 

9 He teases me constantly about it. 

10 It is the king's tailor who works for me. 

11 Do not judge of things by their outward appear- 

ance. 

12 It is a work that requires much time, 

13 He makes us long-winded speeches. 

14 Tell me with whom thou goest, and I will tell thee 

what thou doest. 

15 He breaks everything he touches. 

16 He has left no stone unturned. 

17 They behaved with uncommon civility to me. 



1 L' occasion fait le larron. 


10 — qui m'liabille. 


2 Faire de son mieux. 


11 L'habit ne fait pas le moine. 


3 Laisser faisander de la viande. 


12 — un ouYrage de longue 


4 Nier les faits qu'on vous 


haleine. 


impute. 


13 — des discours a perte d'ha- 


5 — homme comme il faut. 


leine. 


6 N'en falloir pas davantage 


14 Dis-moi qui tu hantes, et 


pour . . . 


je tedirai qui tu es. 


7 — il ne s'en faut guere. 


15 Avoir la main malheureuse. 


8 — nom de guerre. 


16 Heurter a toutes les portes. 


9 Faire la guerre a quelqu'un 


17 Faire mille honnetetes a 


. . . a ce sujet. 


quelqu'un. 



24 



PEACTICAL EXEECISES 



EXEBCISE XXIV. 

1 Do not irritate them still more. 

2 Your presence inspires them with fear. 

3 Do not believe him ; he tells an untruth. 

4 I told him of a good physician. 

5 I meant well when I spoke it. 

6 You had no business to say it. 

7 He is no conjuror. 

8 Run as fast as your legs can carry you. 

9 One must not play a bear's play. 

10 What is bred in the bone can never be got out of 

the flesh. 

1 1 He sticks too close to his work. 

12 See how you are ; you always speak ill of him. 

13 His father was a plain, blunt fellow. 

14 They are aiming at your money. 

15 When you are there, he dares not open his mouth. 

16 Mrs. D will not see anybody to-day. 

17 That's another good one. 



1 Ne pas Jeter de I'liuile sur le 

feu. 

2 — leur impose. 

3 — il vous en impose. 

4 Indiquer un bon medecin. 

5 Je le disais a bonne inten- 

tion. 

6 C'etait inutile a dire. 

7 II n' a pas invente la poudre. 

8 Courir a toutes jambes. 

9 Jeu de main, jeu de vilain. 



10 Chassez le naturel, il revient 

au galop.* 

1 1 Etre trop assidu au travail. 

12 Voila commevous etes; dire 

du mal de quelqu'un. 

13 — un bomme tout rond. 

14 En vouloir a 1' argent de 

quelqu'un. 

15 — souffler le mot. 

16 N' etre pas visible. 

17 En voila bien d'une autre. 



* A line from Boileau's Art Po^tique. 



ON FRENCH PHEASEOLOGY. 



25 



EXEECISE XXV. 

1 Can you not guess ? Do you give it up ? 

2 The business will not clear the cost. 

3 They fought in good earnest. 

4 I begged him hard to give it to them. 

5 He bears iU usage with too much patience. 

6 He owes you a spite. 

7 They all teU the same story. 

8 He is a back-biter. 

9 My time and trouble have been fruitless. 

10 This expression is too indecorous. 

11 We love those who belong to us. 

12 There is no forcing one's will. 

13 He has a short memory. 

14 One must not have too many irons in the fire. 

15 He suffers himself to be led like a child. 

1 6 Can you sing at sight ? 

17 He has neither honour nor honesty. 

18 The business goes heavily on. 



1 Jeter sa langue aiix chiens. 

2 Le jeu ne vaut pas la cliaii- 

deUe. 

3 Se battre bon jeu, bon argent. 

4 Prier quelqu'un a mains 

jointes de . . . 

5 Se laisser tondre la laine sur 

le dos. 

6 Avoir Tine dent de lait contre 

quelqu'un. 

7 Tenir le meme langage. 

8 — mauvaise langue. 



9 J'y ^i psrdu mon latin. 

10 — trop leste. 

11 Cbacnn aime les siens. 

12 Les volontes sont libres. 

13 — une memoire de lievre. 

14 li ne faut pas cbasser deux 

lievres a la fois. 

15 Se laisser mener h la 

lisiere. 

16 — a livre ouvert. 

17 N' avoir ni foi ni loi. 

18 Trainer en longueur. 



26 



PEACTICAL EXEECISES 



Exercise XXVI. 



1 



He remembers things that happened a great while 

ago. 
One must follow the fashion. 
I will have nothing to do with it. 
He is home-sick. 
The best is the cheapest. 

6 That comes just in time. 

7 It is a fault on the right side. 

8 He wanted to make a cat's paw of me. 

9 No one is admitted into his house who does not 

fee the porter. 

10 They live unhappily together. 

1 1 He came to me of his own accord. 

12 He wants some one who will govern him im- 

periously. 

13 They were severely reprimanded. 

14 She is very cross to-day. 

15 This plate is very bright. 

1 6 "We must forgive our enemies. 



1 Se souvenir de loin.. 

2 II faut hurler ayec les loups. 

3 Je m'en lave les mains. 

4 Avoir la maladie du pays. 

5 On n'a jamais bon marclie de 

mauvaise marchandise. 

6 — com me maree en careme. 

7 Se plaindre que la mariee est 

trop beUe. 

8 II voulait se servir de la patte 

du chat pour tirer les mar- 
rons du feu. 



9 On n'entre point chez lui 
sans graisser le marteau.* 

10 Faire mauvais menage. 

11 — de lui memo. 

12 II lui faut quelqu'un qui le 

mene a la baguette. 

13 On leur a fait une bonne 

mercuriale. 

14 Avoir mis son bonnet de 

travers. 

15 On se mirerait dans . . . 

16 A tout pecbe misericorde. 



* A line from Racine's play of Les Plaideurs» 



02^ FEEIs-CH PHEASEOLOGY. 



27 



EXEBCISE XXYII. 

1 Silence gives consent. 

2 There is a felloTV^- feeling among them. 

3 What whim has got into your head ? 

4 He is in a pet. 

5 She is as unlike him as possible. 

6 How can that possibly be ? 

7 There was no furniture in the room. 

8 He is in jail. 

9 He is as regular as clock-work. 

1 I attend Mr. J 's lectures on Political Economy. 

Ill did it of my own accord. 

12 Make an apology to your master. 

13 You advertised it for sale in both papers; what 

advantage will that be to you ? 

14 To complete his misfortune, he never attends to 

his friend's advice. 

15 He has married a most accomplished young lady. 

16 He is awkward of address. 



1 Qui ne dit mot consent. 

2 lis se sont donne le mot. 

3 Quelle mouche tous a pique ? 

4 Prendre la mouche. 

5 Eessembler a quelqu'un 

comme a un moulin a 
vent. 

6 Le moyen que cela soit. 

7 II n'y avait que les quatre 

murailles. 

8 Etre entre quatre murailles. 

9 Etre regie comme un papier 

de musique. 



10 Suivre un cours. 

11 — de mon propre mouye- 

ment. 

12 Faire des excuses a quel- 

qu'un. 

13 Annoncer a vendre — qu'y 

gagnerez-Yous ? 

14 Pour comble de malheur — 

Ecouter les avis de quel- 
qu'un. 

15 — remplie de talents. 

16 Avoir des manieres gau- 

ches. 



28 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise XXVIII. 

1 I regret I did not meet his advances ; he improves 

much upon acquaintance. 

2 I have turned it to account. 

3 He absconded from our house the very day he was 

to have given in his accounts. 

4 I have just given your father an account of your 

conduct. 

5 Make haste, we shall be late. 

6 A small matter will put him out of countenance. 

7 I must not give more than I am able. 

8 Everything inspires him with suspicion. 

9 All is not gold that glitters. 

10 He carries everything to extremes. 
Ill will give him like for like. 

12 We talked of indifferent things. 

13 It is very easy for you to say so. 

14 I saw him follow you softly. 



1 Repondre aux avances de 

quelqu'un — gagner a etre 
cormu. 

2 Tirer parti d'une chose. 

3 S'enfuir de chez quelqu'un. 

— rendre son compte/' 

4 Eendre compte de la conduite 

de quelqu'un. 

5 Etre en retard. 

6 II faut pen de chose pour le 

deconcerter. 

7 Donner plus que nos moyens 

ne nous permettent. 



8 Tout lui fait ombre. 

9 Tout ce qui brille n'est pas 

or. 

10 Etre outre en tout. 

11 Rendre la pareille a quel- 

qu'un. 

12 Parler de la pluie et du beau 

temps. 

13 Vous en parlez fort a votre 

aise. 

14 Suivre quelqu'un a pas de 

loup. 



ON PREN^CH PHRASEOLOGY. 



29 



iExERCISE XXIX. 

1 I don't wisb. for it any longer. 

2 I am liere among acquaintances. 

3 I have a free access to Hs library. 

4 I never liave much money about me at night. 

5 I am about to leave town to go on a journey. 

6 Such trifles are not worth your acceptance. 

7 He told us that he had his pocket picked of his 

watch near the Exchange. 

8 The pickpocket was taken in the very act. 

9 I excused myself on account of my age. 

10 He bore an excellent character. 

1 1 He has practised an imposition upon me ; he will 

smart for it. 

12 She is a well-informed lady. 

13 He was a great gossip. 

14 1 am not in a good frame of mind to-day. 

15 That child grows visibly. 

16 1 recollected the knave by his old tricks. 



1 La fantaisie m'en est passee. 

2 Etre en pays de connais- 

sance. 

3 Entrer librement dans . . . 

4 Porter de 1' argent sur soi. 

5 AUer en campagne. 

6 Ne pas meriter d'etre offert. 

7 — qu'on lui vola sa montre . . . 

8 Le filou fut pris sur le fait. 

9 S'excuser sur son age. 



10 Jouir d'une excellente re- 

putation. 

11 En imposer a quelq^u'un ; lI 

lui en cuira. 

12 — fort instruite. 

13 Etre la gazette du quartier„ 

14 N'etre pas dans son assiette, 

15 Croitre a vue d'oeil. 

16 J'ai reconnu la le peleria. 



30 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise XXX. 



1 The same fate attend^ him. 

2 He has fared poorly for some time back. 

3 They want a man of sound principles. 

4 I can make nothing of it. 

5 A good action never remains unrewarded. 

6 He thinks he has made a wonderful discovery. 

7 He must be very short of money. 

8 Everybody is bitter against him. 

9 He has given you the very worst of characters. 

10 He is a man of common abilities. 

11 We arrived safely home. 

12 Such was the noise and confusion, that he could 

not succeed in obtaining a hearing. 

13 1 gave my horse the reins, and was soon out of 

sight. 

14 Do not puzzle your head about that any longer 

you will never bring it about. 



1 Autant lui en pend a Toreille. 

2 Faire penitence. ^ 

3 — bien pensant. 

4 Je m'y perds. 

5 Un bienfait n'est jamais 

perdu. 

6 II croit avoir trouve la pie au 

nid. 

7 Gene — oVy bien pres de ses 

pieces. 

8 Jeter la pierre a quelqu'un. 



9 Dire pis que pendre de quel- 
quelqu'un. 

10 — un bomme fort ordinaire. 

11 Arriver sain et sauf. 

12 — parvenir a se faire en- 

tendre. 

13 Lacber la bride a son cbeval. 

Disparaitre aussitot. 

14 Se rompre la tete a quelque 

cbose ; en venir a bout. 



ON FBENCH PHBASEOLOGY. 



31 



EXEBCISE XXXI. 

1 They cleared the harbour at night. 

2 We run all hazards. 

3 He is excessively insolent. 

4 You don't yet know the mystery of it. 

5 Louis the Eighteenth, 1815, set a reward on 

Napoleon's head. 

6 Sleep, during your stay in town, at the Golden 

Cross ; people are furnished there with the best 
accommodations. 

7 I will abide, in this case, by the decision of my 

legal adviser. 

8 Lose no time in making your acknowledgments 

for the many favours he has bestowed upon you. 

9 They have brought it into fashion. 

10 He pleaded guilty. 

1 1 These pictures will never fetch one thousand pounds. 

12 1 wonder if they have turned out my horse to grass. 

1 3 He is out of favour for having harboured his guilty 

friend. 



1 Sortir du port . . . 

2 Eisquer le tout pour le tout. 

3 — au dernier degre. 

4 Savoir le dessous des cartes. 

5 Mettre la tete de quelqu'un 

a prix. 

6 Couclier a . . . On y procure 

aux gens toutes les com- 
modites possibles. 

7 Se soumettre a la decision de 

son homme de loi. 

8 — temoigner yotre recon- 



naissance pour les bien- 
faits dont il yous a com- 
ble. 
9 Mettre quelque cbose a la 



10 S'aYOuer coupable. 

11 — ne rapporteront . . . 

12 Je Youdrais bien saYoir si 

— Mettre un cbeval au 
vert. 

13 Disgracie — Donner retraite 

a quelqu'un. 



32 



PEACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise XXXII. 

1 We lay all night in the open air. 

2 That work has no other fault but its length. 

3 What is he to do ? he has not wherewith to live 

upon. 

4 I need not tell you that. 

5 He was as welcome as a dog at a wedding. 

6 He is very serious on such matters. 

7 Hold your tongue, and don't stand arguing with 

me. 

8 I refer the thing to anybody. 

9 They are well met. 

10 It is a worn-out story. 

11 Do not brush that cloth against the nap. 

12 I leave my house under your care. 

13 I do not go by that rule. 

14 The theatre wiU be closed this day week. 

15 It is fair weather again. 

16 This coat does not fit you well ; it is too tight. 



1 Coucher a la belle etoile. 

2 Ne pecher que par sa lon- 

gueur. 

3 Que voulez-YOus qu'il fasse ? 

N' avoir pas de quoi vivre. 

4 Je n'ai que faire de vous dire 

cela. 
6 Etre re^u comme un chien 

dans un jeu de quilles. 
6 II n'entend point raillerie la 



7 Se taire — Ne pas faire le 
raisonneur — 



8 S'en rapporter a qui que ce 

soil. 

9 A bon chat, bon rat. 

10 — un conte rebattu. 

11 — a rebours. 

12 Eecommander sa maison a 

quelqu'un. 

13 Ne pas se regler sur . . . 

14 II y aura relacbe au the- 

atre . . . 

15 Le temps s'est remis au beau. 

16 Ne pas aller bien — Etre trop 

juste — 



ON PRENCH PHRASEOLOGY. 



33 



Exercise XXXIII. 

1 Those soldiers have undergone all kinds of hard- 

ships ; yet they stood their ground well. 

2 You should not think that hard upon you, 

3 My health has improved since I have been in the 

country. 

4 Can I do you any good ? 

5 I told you it would come to no good. 

6 Speak out ; they are not within hearing. 

7 You would ask him for it in vain; on that subject 

he will not hear. 

8 Avoid hurting his feelings. 

9 The fire- works will be let off at nine o'clock. 

10 He was standing like a statue. 

1 1 He is deep in debt. 

12 1 yield to your arguments. 

1 3 He is sorry for having treated you disrespectfully. 

14 She reproved him gently. 

15 That nobleman makes a good figure. 

16 1 shall upbraid him for it. 



1 Essuyer toutes sortes de fa- 


8 Blesser la sensibilite de 


tigues; — Combattre de pied 


quelqu'un. 


ferme. 


9 Tirer un feu d' artifice. 


2 Eegarder cela comme quelque 


10 Ne remuer ni pied ni patte. 


chose de tres facheux. 


11 Etre charge de dettes. 


3 Se porter mieux. 


12 Se rendre aux raisons de 


4 Etre de quelque utilite a 


quelqu'un. 


quelqu'un. 


13 Se repentir d' avoir manque 


5 Tourner mal. 


a quelqu'un. 


6 Parler haut ... a portee 


14 Eeprendre quelqu'un ayec 


d' entendre. 


bonte. 


7 Faire le sourd. 


15 Eepresenter bien. 




16 Je lui en ferai des reproches. 



34 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise XXXIV. 

1 Birds of a feather flock together. 

2 What hinders you ? 

3 All my time is taken up. 

4 I will give you five guineas to boot. 

5 How many will fall to my share ? 

6 He has left off his old pranks. 

7 I cannot recollect his name at present. 

8 Do you suppose she would think fit to gratify your 

curiosity ? 

9 If you had given him a hint about it, he would 

have been upon his guard. 

10 They fared Uke kings at his house. 

11 It was very painful to us to leave them to their 

fate. 

12 How will he get out of that scrape ? 

13 His life is at stake. 

14 It is all over with him. 

15 They have left off business. 

16 He has epileptic fits. 



1 Qui se ressemble s' assemble. 

2 Qu'est-ce qui vous retient ? 

3 Toutes mes heures sont re- 

tenues. 

4 — de retour. 

5 Combien m'en reyiendra- 

t-il? 

6 E^verdr de ses folies. 

7 Son nom ne me revient pas. 

8 Juger a propos de flatter la 

curiosite de quelqu'un. 



9 En donner avis . . . Se tenir 
sur ses gardes. 

10 Faire une chere de Eoi. 

11 II nous en a coute beaucoup 

de les abandonner a leur 
sort. 

12 Se tirer d' affaire. ' 

13 II y ya de sa vie. 

14 C'en est fait de lui. 

15 Ne faire plus rien. 

16 Tomber du baut mal. 



Oi^ rEENCH PHEASEOLOGY. 



35 



EXEECISE XXXV. 

1 I liave dropped some hints on the subject. 

2 Do not let that make you uneasy. 

3 Fortune has deserted him. 

4 Follow the example of your ancestors. 

5 He goes at a great rate. 

6 He is in a speaking humour. 

7 Every one had a fling at me. 

8 This is not done like a friend. 

9 He is a peremptory man. 

1 The book I gave him is gilt. 
Ill bartered my horse for his mare. 

12 1 hope I don't intrude. 

13 He is a great bore. 

14 He caned him to death. 

15 He used him like a negro. 

16 He has endured many hardships. 

17 1 wish they would take it off our hands. 



1 En touclier quelques mots. 

2 Que cela ne yous tourmente 

point. 

3 — lui a tourne le dos. 

4 Snivre les traces de . . . 

5 Aller grand train. 

6 Le Yoila en train de parler. 

7 Chaciin me lane a son trait. 

8 Ce n'est pas la nn trait d'ami. 

9 — qui tranche sur tout. 



10 — dor 6 sur tranche. 

11 Donner en troc , . . 

12 J'espere que je ne suis pas 

de trop ? 

13 C'est unhomme assommant. 

14 Tuer a coups de baton. 

15 Tr alter de Turc a Maure. 

16 Manger de la vache en- 

ragee — 

17 En debarrasser quelqu'un. 



36 



PBACTICAL EXEECISES 



EXEECISE XXXVI. 

1 He is over officious. 

2 Like master, like man, 

3 You do nothing right. 

4 Forewarned, forearmed. 

5 You must not be guilty of the same fault again. 

6 She must have a tooth drawn. 

7 Help him to pile them up in a heap. 

8 Your cousin must be very hard of hearing. 

9 I consent to it, provided you go hand in hand 

with me. 

10 He denies it, though he said it within my hearing. 

1 1 She is very happy in her children, 

12 I go upon sure ground. 

13 A cottage in possession, is better than a kingdom 

in reversion. 

14 He is cured of the follies of the world. 

15 He is a poor useless creature. 

16 He had his labour for his pains. 



1 Faire le bon valet. 

2 Tel maitre, tel valet. 

3 Ne faire rien qui vaille. 

4 Un averti en vaut deux. 

5 Eetomber dans . . . 

6 Se faire arracher une dent. 

7 Mettre en tas. 

8 Avoir Toreille dure. 

9 Etre de moitie avec quel- 

Gu'un, 



10 — quoique je le lui aie en- 

tendu dire. 

11 Ses enfants font tout son 

bonheur. 

12 Etre sur de son fait. 

13 Un tiens vaut mieux que 

deux tu r auras.* 

14 Etre revenu des vanites de 

ce monde. 

15 II ne fait plus que vegeter. 

16 S'enallercommeonestvenu. 



* A line from one of La Fontaine's Fables. 



ON FRENCH PHRASEOLOGY. 



37 



Exercise XXXVII. 

1 All that is idle talk. 

2 It is just the same ; there is no manner of differ- 

ence between them. 

3 Whoever does the damage must pay for it. 

4 We were overturned twice during the journey. 

5 He is offended with you. 

6 You have not been thankful for his kindness. 

7 He was very near being fined. 

8 They never lose sight of him, for fear he should 

lay violent hands on himself. 

9 He will take it in hand, if you find him in money 

until it is done. 

10 It would put you to some expense to no purpose. 

1 1 Here is the rough copy ; write it out fair. 

12 He attends divine worship regularly. 

13 Do they sell by retail as well as by wholesale ? 

14 He broke his engagement. 



1 Autant en emporte le vent. 

2 C est jus vert on verjus. 

3 Qui casse les verres, les paie. 

4 Avoir verse . . . 

5 Etre faclie contre quelqu'nn. 

6 Ne pas reconnaitre Tin bien- 

fait. 

7 Pen s'en fallnt que . . . Etre 

condanme a une amende. 



8 On le garde a vne . . . Se 

donner la mort. 

9 Entreprendre. — Fournir 

qnelqu'nn d' argent. 

10 Faire faire de la depense en 

pure perte. 

1 1 Brouillon. — Mettre an net. 

12 Assister au service divin. 

13 — en detail — en gros. 

14 Manquer a un rendez-vous. 



38 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise XXXVIII. 

1 I do not bear you ill-will ; let us shake hands. 

2 He had been trained to the use of arms. 

3 The footman asked me my name before he showed 

me upstairs. 

4 He must have made great haste to have overtaken 

you. 

5 They wish you would stand godfather to their child. 

6 He gave them the slip, though they kept a good 

watch. 

7 I assure you I meant no harm. 

8 We plied our oars briskly. 

9 The poor fellow is driven to extremities, 
10 We are going to have a subscription ball. 

Ill shall get the better of that child, obstinate as 
he is. 

12 1 may say truly that I have raised my own fortune. 

1 3 Have done ; you trespass on my kindness. 



1 N'en pas vouloir a qiiel- 

qu'un. 

2 Etre exerce a manier les 

armes. 

3 Faire monter. 

4 Aller un train de poste — At- 

teindre quelqu'un. 

5 Tenir sur les fonts . . . 

or, etre parrain de . . . 

6 Echapper a quelqu'un sans 



etre aper^n. — Faire bonne 
garde. 

7 N'y entendre pas malice. 

8 Faire force de rames. 

9 — reduit aux abois. 

10 Bal d'abonnes. 

11 Venir a bout de . . . 

12 Etre T artisan de sa propre 

fortune. 

13 Abuser de la bonte de 

quelqu'un. 



ON FEEJs^CH PHEASEOLOGY. 39 

Exercise XXXIX. 

1 Take a drop of wine. 

2 That physician makes high charges. 

3 What a fine thing science is ! 

4 Let us go, happen what may. 

5 Do that, and mark the end of it. 

6 Truth may sometimes be improbable. 

7 He is a good boy, is he not ? 

8 He is gone to try his fortune in the East Indies. 

9 Let us set a subscription on foot for those unfor- 

tunate children : they are quite destitute. 

1 He promised to atone for his faults. 

1 1 Why not work instead of begging ? 

12 Does he bear malice to you? 

1 3 As the case stands, I will bring him off once more . 

14 Let him ride there in a coach, and walk back. 

15 Do not contend so long about such trifles. 

16 I contrive to pass unperceived. 



1 Prendre iin doigt de vin. 

2 — fait payer fort cher ses 

yisites. 

3 Yive la science ! 

4 Yogue la galere. 
— pour Yoir. 

6 Le vrai pent qnelquefois 

n'etre pas yraisemblable. * 

7 Etre sage. 

8 Tenter la fortune. 

9 Ouvrir une souscription. — 



Etre dans le plus grand 
dennement. 

10 Eeparer ses fautes. 

11 Demander Tanmone. 

12 Garder de la rancune. 

13 La chose etant ainsi, je le 

tirerai d' affaire . . . 

14 Aller en voitnre — Eevenir 

a pied. 

15 Disputer sur . . . 

16 Faire en sorte de ne pas 

etre aper^u. 



* A line from Boileau's Art Po^tique. 



40 



PEACTICAL EXE^ISES 



Exercise XL. 

1 I acknowledged the receipt of his letter. 

2 He takes in the Standard. 

3 They abuse one another. 

4 Let us go out fishing. 

5 Miss G. has a new riding-dress. 

6 Give my love to the children. 

7 Porter, keep out strangers. 

8 It is impertinent to laugh, as you do, on every 

occasion. 

9 Let us direct our steps home. 

10 Has he not discharged his duties satisfactorily? 

1 1 We have roused him from his lethargy. 

12 Your boy is backward in his French. 

13 He spoke to me in the kindest manner. 

14 If you should want money, I hope you will apply 

to me. 
15. To talk of literature to him, is to talk of colours 
to a blind man : he is a mere ignoramus. 



1 Accuser reception d'une 

lettre. 

2 S'abonner a . . . 

3 Se dire des injures. 

4 — a la peche. 

5 — Amazone. 

6 Faire ses amities a . . . 

7 Empecher d'entrer. 

8 — a tout propos. 



9 S'adieminer vers . . . 
IG S'acqiiitter de son devoir. 

11 Tirer quelqu'un de sa le- 

thargic. 

12 N'etre pas avance dans . . 

13 Adresser la parole a quel- 

qu'un . . . 

14 S' adresser a quelqu'un. 

15 — il ne salt ni A ni B. 




GN FRENCH PHEASEOLOGY. 



EXEECISE XLI. 



41 



1 I addressed him in French. 

2 She feels the loss of her beauty too much. 

3 His brother-in-law has behaved very ill to me. 

4 During dinner, they talked of you. 

5 Allow me to save you the trouble of helping me. 

6 These people live in comfort, and deny themselves 

nothing. 

7 The English like to have all their comforts about 

them. 

8 He said so, but merely for fashion's sake. 

9 He would marry her, if she could but get rid of 

her connexions. 

10 Are you come to pick a quarrel? 

1 1 He has often put them to the blush. 

12 All his servants are on board-wages. 

13 You are always poring over books. 

14 He frequently breaks in upon me. 

15 He failed for thirty thousand pounds. 



1 Adresser la parole a quel- 

qu'un . . . 

2 S'affecter trop de . . . 

3 En agir mal envers quel- 

qu'un. 

4 — 11 fut question de vous. 

5 Eviter la peine de servir. 

6 Vivre dans I'aisance. — Ne 

se rien refuser. 



7 Avoir toutes leurs aises. 

8 — par maniere d'acquit. 

9 — se defaire de ses alen- 

tours. 

10 Cherclier querelle. 

11 Faire rougir quelqu'un. 

12 Se nourrir. 

13 Eire colle sur des livres. 

14 Venir deranger quelqu'un. 

15 Faire banqueroute de . . . 



42 



PEACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise XLH. 



1 To succeed in your undertaking, you should 

manage it thus. 

2 I had rather not make the first proposal. 

3 Will you dress the salad ? 

4 This room would suit me, if it were not on the 

ground-floor. 

5 What ! quarrelling again ! Will you never agree ? 

6 Upon an average, they cost me five pounds. 

7 Hold yourself in readiness to give us a lift in case 

of need. 

8 That is quite another thing. 

9 They are very snug in this place. 

10 They made your letter a matter of great sport 

among their friends. 

1 1 Let us toss up to decide who shall pay. 

12 He is much altered. 

13 We can do without that. 

14 He is not related to me, I assure you. 



1 Parvenir a ses fins. — S'y 


8 — une autre paire de 


prendre ainsi. 


manches. 


2 Faire les premieres avances. 


9 Etre commodement dans . . . 


3 Assaisonner. 


10 Faire des gorges chaudes 


4 Accommoder . . . Rez de 


de. . . 


chaussee. 


11 Jouer a crois ou a pile qui 


5 Etre d' accord. 


payera. 


6 L'un portant T autre. 


12 Devenir tout autre. 


7 Donner un coup de main a 


13 N'attendi-e pas apres . . , 


quelqu'un. 


14 11 ne m'est rien, — 



ON FBENCH PHEASEOLOGY. 



43 



EXEBCISE XLIII. 

1 Charity begins at liome. 

2 In our way from cliurcli, we met him. 

3 We had enough of dancing at the last ball. 

4 He began then to inveigh bitterly against me. 

5 Listen attentively to me. 

6 He had promised it to me, but he broke his word. 

7 I thought there was something at the bottom. 

8 He sees a great deal of company. 

9 He succeeded in persuading us that his friendship 

would stand any test. 

10 It was the hottest part of the summer. 

11 He gave me the slip. 

12 He is a good-for-nothing fellow. 

13 I cannot conquer him; his greatest delight is 

mischief. 

14 Insensibly, he related the whole story to us. 



1 Charite bien ordonnee com- 

mence par soi-meme. 

2 Comme nous revenions de . . . 

3 S'en donner comme il faut. 

4 Se mettre a se decliainer 

contre quelqu'un. 

5 Preter une oreille attentive a 

quelGu'un. 

6 — il s'en est dedit. 

7 — quelqne chose la-dessous. 



8 Etre fort repandu dans le 

monde. 

9 Etre a toute epreuve. 

10 — dans le fort de I'ete. 

11 Faire faux-bond a qnel- 

qu'im. 

12 — meciiant garnement. 

13 — En venir a bout. — Nere- 

spirer que plaies et bosses. 

14 De fil en aiguiUe, il . . . 



44 



PEAGTICAL EXERCISES 



EXEECISE XLIY. 



1 The company broke up at eleven o'clock. 

2 It will be twelve years the day after to-morrow 

since I came to London. 

3 I did not know you bad been so long in England. 

4 He owes you a grudge. 

5 I introduced bim to a clever and good-natured 

friend of mine. 

6 Let bim not venture to come to my bouse ; I would 

turn bim out. 

7 How slow of apprebension tbat boy is ! 

8 He may be sure tbat I sbaU not interfere witb bim. 

9 He treats tbem very rougbly. 

10 He is a fox disguised in a sbeep-skin. 

11 Wbat does be take upon bimself ? 

12 Wbat a number of idlers tbere are in Paris ! 

13 I wbispered it to bim. 

14 He is fair spoken. 



[ Y avoir. 



1 Se separer a . 

2 

3 

4 II vous la garde bonne. 

5 Presenter a ... qui a beau- 

coup d' esprit et un bon 
caractere. 

6 S'aviser de . . . Mettre a la 

porte. 

7 Avoir r esprit boucbe. 



8 Aller sur les brisees de quel- 

qu'un. 

9 Menez quelqu'un tambour 

battant. 

10 Faire le bon apotre. 

11 De quoi s'avise-t-il? 

12 Que de badauds . . . 

13 Dire quelque chose tout bas, 

or, a I'oreille. 

14 Dormer de I'eau benite de 

cour. 



ON FBElSrCH PHRASEOLOGY. 



45 



ExEBCisE XLV. ■ 

1 You are indeed quick in your proceedings. 

2 What a bustle lie makes about nothing. 

3 He is well bred ; I am glad of his acquaintance. 

4 "We are already on very good terms. 

5 That man is not to be trusted. 

6 I shall receive it through his means. 

7 The rogue no sooner saw me than he ran away. 

8 He is far from being learned. 

9 I have given my servant liberty to go where 

he pleases. 

10 They will lose nothing by the bargain. 

1 1 He wanted to impose upon me. 

12 She dresses her own hair. 

13 She can always force a tear. 



1 Aller vite en besogne. 

2 Faire du bruit poiir rien. 

3 Ayoir bon ton. — Etre bien 

aise de faire la connais- 
sance de quelqn'un. 

4 Etre deja fort bien ensem- 

ble. 

5 Etre snjet a caution. 

6 — par son canal. 

7 Gagner anx champs. 



8 N'etre rien moins que 

savant. 

9 Donner la clef des champs 

a . . . 

10 Ne perdre rien an change. 

11 Donner le change a qnel- 

qu'un. 

12 Se coiffer soi-meme. 

13 Avoir des pleurs de com- 

mande. 



46 



PE-ACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise XLVI. 

1 I called to tlieni to stop. 

2 He has been so audacious as to shake his stick 

at us. 

3 You go on too fast. 

4 He has a care-worn countenance. 

5 We do not care for him. 

6 Are you going to cavil at this too ? 

7 Don't contradict yourself. 

8 I will give my servant a good character. 

9 It was quite out of character. 

10 It would be well to check his vanity. 

11 One of my brothers is in the church; the other is 

in the law. 

12 Is church over ? 

13 You drive better than he. 



1 Crier a quelqu'im d'arreter. 

2 S'oTiblier jusqu'a menacer 

quelqu'un de la canne. 

3 Comme yous y allez. 

4 Avoir des soucis peints sur 

sa figure. 

5 Ne pas se soucier de quel- 

qu'un. 

6 Trouyer a redire a . . . 

7 Ne se pas couper. 



8 Eendre un bon temoignage 

d'un domestique. 

9 — ridicule. 

10 Mortifier la vanite de 

quelqu'un. 

11 L'etat ecclesiastique — au 

barreau. 

12 Le service est-il fini ? 

13 Conduire. 



ON FEENCH PHBASEOLOGY. 



47 



EXEECISE XLVII. 

1 He is more embarrassed tlian ever in his circum- 

stances. 

2 He looks sternly at you. 

3 I went out shooting this morning. 

4 I saw a hare, aimed at him, but my gun flashed 

in the pan. 

5 The Duke left his box before the curtain dropt. 

6 I thought he would miss his aim. 

7 That actor hardly ever knows his part. 

8 I am going to a party to-night. I hope I shall 

enjoy myself. 

9 They found their boys much improved on their 

return from school. 

10 I often go in a boat. 

Ill can walk faster than you. 

12 I did not walk here to-day; I came on horse- 
back. 



1 Etre mal dans ses affaires. 

2 Kegarder quelqu'im de cote. 

3 Aller a la chasse. 

4 Couclier en joue. — Eater. 

5 — avant qn'on eut baisse le 

ridean. 

6 Manqner son coup. 



7 Savoir son role. 

8 Aller en soiree — s'amuser. 

9 — tres-avances dans leurs 

etudes. 

10 Se promener en bateau. 

11 Marcher. 

12 Yenir a pied — a cbeval. 



48 



PEACTICAL EXEECISES 



EXEECISE XLYIII. 



1 He lias married his cousin. 

2 Wlio has married them ? The bishop. 

3 I am an only son. 

4 He will never return to his native country. 

5 Is it true that your cousin had a fall from his 

horse, and broke his leg ? 

6 Is he already returned ? 

7 I take it kindly of you to come and see me. 

8 I have not seen my father these ten years. 

9 We all side with you. 

10 It is a hilly cotmtry. 

1 1 Who does not build castles in the air ? 

12 He lives by his wits. 

13 The police officers are looking for him; he has 

done something wrong, no doubt. 

14 Cannot you see it ? Why, it lies just before your 

eyes. 



1 Epouser. 

2 Marier. 

3 Fils unique. 

4 Patrie. 

5 Faire une chute de clieval — 

se casser la jambe. 

6 — revenu. 

7 Avoir bon gre a quelqu'un 

de... 

8 — depuis . • . 



9 Etre du parti de quel- 
qu'un. 

10 — montagneux. 

11 Batir des chateaux en 

Espagne. 

12 C'est un chevalier d'indus- 

trie. 

13 — un mauvais coup. 

14 — il vous creve les yeux. 



Oy PEEXCH PHEASEOLOGY. 49 

EXEECISE XLIX. 

1 His horse stumbles at every step, 

2 He came off with glory. 

3 I came off a loser. 

4 All my hair comes off. 

5 He came to my terms. 

6 I fainted ; and when I recovered my senses, they 

were gone. 

7 Go up to him. 

8 I live a comfortable life. 

9 I find nothing more comfortable in my troubles. 

10 He has no command of himself. 

11 Why do you countenance such a man ? 

12 Why does he wink at us so ? 

13 He winked at his son's faults. 

14 I have taken the liberty to trouble him with 

a letter. 

15 1 will not trouble him any more. 

16 Excuse the trouble I give you. 



1 Bronclier a chaque pas. 10 Xe pas savoir se moderer. 

2 Sortir d" affaire avec hon- 11 Favoriser un homme. 



neur. 

3 Y perdre. 

4 Tomber. 

5 Se rendre aux conditions que 



12 Faire signe de Toeil a quel- 

qu'iin. 

13 Fermer les yeux siu . . . 

14 Charger quelqu'un d'lme 



quelqu'un a proposees. j lettre. 

6 S'evanoTiir. — Revenii a soi. ' 15 Xe pas importnner qiiel- 

7 S'approcher de quelqu'un. ' qu'un davantage. 

8 Mener une vie douce. 16 Pardonnez si je tous donne 

9 — consolant — malheurs. | cette peine. 



50 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise L. 

1 If anytlimg be amiss, you may thank yourself 

for it. 

2 I bear my misfortunes patiently. 

3 I am glad to bear that be follows good courses. 

4 His nose began bleeding, so that be was obliged 

to go out. 

5 Curiosity prompts me to go tbitber. 

6 If you do not mend, evil will betide you. 

7 Yesterday, a fire broke out in bis bouse. 

8 He often gets intoxicated. 

9 As you manage matters, it will never be done. 

10 Whj does be tax me witb it ? 

11 If be does not settle witb me, I sball come upon 

you. 

12 Ab ! you rogue ; I catcb you at it. 

1 3 He tbinks bigbly of bimself. 



1 Y avoir du mal. — S'en pren- 

dre a soi-meme. 

2 Prendre son mal en patience. 

3 Prendre la bonne voie. 

4 II lui prit un saignement de 

nez . . . 

5 La curiosite me prend d'y 

aller. 

6 Se corriger ... II vous en 

prendra mal. 

7 — le feu prit a . . . 



8 Se prendre sonvent de vin. 

9 De la maniere dont vous 

vous y prenez . . . 

10 S'en prendre a quelqu'un. 

11 Payer quelqu'un — s'en 

prendre a quelqu'un. 

12 All! coquin ; je vous y 

prends. 

1 3 Avoir une haute idee de soi- 

meme. 



ON FRENCH PHKASEOLOGY. 



51 



EXEBCISE LI. 

1 To expect such, a sum from me, he must suppose 

that my pockets are lined with gold. 

2 I shall have that door blocked up. 

3 Are they not aware that it is a hanging matter ? 

4 Go and look, you will pay nothing for it. 

5 I told him my mind without reserve. 

6 He can have it cheaper there. 

7 I will inform you of all we do. 

8 He clasped his daughter in his arms, and burst 

into tears. 

9 He pretends to be very clever. 

10 I am actually benumbed with cold. 

1 1 How did you come by it ? 

12 Does be think to come off so ? 

13 Did I not tell you it would turn out to be a false- 

hood ? 



1 Etre tout cousu d'or. 

2 Faire condamner uiie porte. 

3 — Tin cas pendable ? 

4 — il n'en coute rien. 

Dire ce qu'on a sur le coeiir. 

6 Avoir quelque chose a meil- 

leur compte. 

7 Mettre quelqu'un au courant 

de... 



8 Serrer quelqu'un dans ses 

bras. — Fondre en larmes. 

9 Faii^e I'liabile home. 

10 — transi de froid. 

11 Comment ravez-vouseu ? 

12 Croit-il en etre quitte a si 

bon marcbe ? 

13 Se trouyer faux. 



52 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise LII. 

1 How comes that, tell me ? 

2 When will this book come out ? 

3 I am told it is to come out this day fortnight. 

4 I swam across the river. 

5 They do it in emulation of one another. 

6 He looks like a sailor, does he not ? 

7 He refused it, and now he is very sorry for it. 

8 He is facetious and witty. 

9 I went groping along, until I found the bell-rope. 

10 I was so certain of it, that I would have taken my 

oath to it. 

1 1 Now, you are equal in rank with them. 

12 He has always been a spendthrift. 

1 3 He wisely resolved to hold his tongue. 

14 From what I see, I must submit to that. 



1 Comment cela se fait-il ? 

2 — paraitra-t-il ? 

3 — d'aujourd'hui en quinze. 

4 Traverser la riviere a la 

nage. 

5 — a qui mieux mieux. 

6 Avoir la mine d'un marin. 

7 Eefuser la main de qnel- 

qu'un; — s'en mordre les 
doigts. 



8 Avoir le mot pour rire. 

9 Aller a tatons. 

10 En lever la main. 

11 Aller de pair avec quel- 

qu'un. 

12 — bourreau d' argent; or, 

panier perce. 

13 Prendre le parti de se taire. 

14 A ce que je vois ... en 

passer par la. 



ON FEENCH PHRASEOLOGY. 53 

EXEECISE LIII. 

1 Let us waive tliat subject. 

2 I could not contain my joy. 

3 He was near dying. 

4 Never fail in your duty. 

5 He has ever afterwards -been called by that name. 

6 Do you keep bouse togetber now ? 

7 What is tbe best news ? 

8 Luckily, be did not nibble at tbe bait. 

9 Now I tbink of it, bow is your uncle ? 

10 Take, take ; it adds to tbe number. 

1 1 Sbe nurses berself too mucb. 

12 You bave put me out quite. 

13 Wbose deal is it? Mine. 

14 I know bow to deal witb bim» 

1 5 He gave my friend a flat denial. 

16 Tbe Council of King's College will meet tbe day 

after to-morrow. 

17 At lengtb tbe die is cast. 



1 Passons la-dessus. 

2 N'etre pas maitre de sa joie. 

3 Manquer motirir. 

4 Ne jamais manquer a son 

devoir. 

5 Le nom lui en est reste. 

6 Tenir menage ensemble. 

7 Que dit-on de bon ? 

8 Mordre a rbamegon. 



9 A propos . . . 

10 — cela fait nombre. 

11 S'ecoTiter trop. 

12 Derouter qnelqu'un. 

13 Faire, or, donner. 

14 — comment le prendre. 

15 Eefuser tout net. 

16 S' assembler. 

17 Le sort en est jete. 



54 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise LIV. 

1 I am going to meet my sister, who is to arrive at 

six, from the country. 

2 He was so dejected, that he denied himseK to all 

but me. 

3 What does he do to relax his mind after work ? 

4 I am disappointed in that youth. 

5 You will get out of favour with them, if you do 

not leave off those ways. 

6 The servants go up and down by the back stairs. 

7 He often gets into a passion. 

8 He is a very stingy man. 

9 The poor fellow is put to his last shift. 

10 Your nose bleeds. 

11 It is carrying coals to Newcastle. 

12 Don't you see that he has a sham arm ? 

13 He is fourteen, though he does not look so old ; 

but he is short for his age. 

14 Who sent you? 



1 Aller au devant de quel- 

qu'un. 

2 Etre abattu. — Faire refuser 

sa porte a tout le monde. 

3 Se distraire. 

4 Ce jeune homme ne remplit 

pas mes esperances. 

5 Perdre les bonnes graces de 

quelqu'un. — Se defaire de 
ses habitudes. 



6 — escalier derobe. 

7 S'emporter. 

8 Etre dur a la desserre. 

9 Ne plus savoir ou donner de 

la tete. 

10 Saigner du nez. 

11 Porter de I'eau a la riviere. 

12 — bras posticbe. 

13 Etre petit pour son age. 

14 De quelle part venez-vous 



ON FRENCH PHBASEOLOaY. 



55 



Exercise LY. 

1 I was surprised to see his heart fail him in that 

circumstance. 

2 It is no great things. 

3 We ran against each other. 

4 Take a run before you leap. 

5 They will make him pay for all this. 

6 They have had a run of good luck. 

7 I gave him a Eoland for his Oliver. 

8 We were going full sail before the wind. 

9 I will have this stone set in gold. 

10 They set up business with very little. 

1 1 I am deaf to that. 

12 That is as much as to say, No, 

13 Can you spare him for half an hour. 

14 It is his temper ; he does not mince his words. 



1 Saigner du nez. 

2 Ce n'est pas le Perou. 

3 Se heurter en courant. 

4 Prendre son elan. 

5 Faire payer a quelqu'un les 

pots casses. 

6 — una bonne veine. 

7 Donner a quelqu'iin la mon- 

naie de sa piece. 

8 Yoguer a pleines Yoiles. 



9 Faire monter une pierre en 
or. 

10 Commencer avec pen de 

chose. 

11 N'entendi'e pas de cette 

oreille-la. 

12 C'est-a-dire que non. 

13 Se passer de quelqu'un. 

14 C'est la son humenr — Ne 

pas macher ses paroles. 



56 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES. 



Exercise LYI. 

1 We have boiled meat for dinner. 

2 All ! you sly man ! 

3 It is -whispered about that Mr. M — is a bankrupt. 

4 I long to bear if it is true. 

5 I see you have picked out tbe best. 

6 Tbe Spanish ambassador and ours contended for 

the precedency. 

7 If that's all, you may go. 

8 He looks so demure, one would say he has no hand 

in it. 

9 They are always quarrelling about trifles. 

10 He begs to be remembered to you. 

1 1 He has lost his character. 

12 His affection is repaid. 

13 I cannot recollect it; do put me on the right 

scent. 

14 Now I have it. 



1 Avoir mis le pot au feu. 

2 Euse matois que vous etes ! 

3 II court un bruit sourd que . . 

4 II me tarde de savoir si . . . 

5 Choisir. 

6 Se disputer le pas. 

7 S'il ne tient qu'a cela . . . 

8 On dirait qu'il n'y touche pas. 



9 Faire a quelqu'un des que- 
relles d'AUemand. 

10 II m' a prie de le rappeler a 

Yotre souvenir. 

1 1 Etre perdu de reputation. 

12 Etre paye de retour. 

13 Mettre quelqu'un sur la 

voie. 

14 M'y voila. 



ON PBENCH PHKASEOLOGT. 



57 



EXEBCISE LVII. 

1 That is not to be refused. 

2 Let me alone for that. 

3 Fear was his only punishment. 

4 He was obliged to crawlupon all fours to get in. 

5 For what reason did thej quarrel ? 

6 You apply too late. 

7 I will go before to give them notice of your arrival. 

8 He spends his money in an extravagant manner. 

9 You did not go the right way about it. 

10 I did not mince the matter to him. 

11 His foot slipped, he fell, and broke his arm. 

12 How much have you yearly for your pocket- 

money ? 

13 He went thither unknown to me. 

14 That is like him. 

15 1 alighted at the Crown. 

16 To the best of my memory. 



1 — de refus. 

2 Pouvoir s'en rapporter a 

quelqu'un. 

3 En etre quitte pour la peur. 

4 Marcher a quatre pattes . . . 
6 A quel propos . . . 

6 S'y prendre trop tard. 

7 Prendre les devants . . . 

8 Jeter son argent par les fe- 

netres. 



9 Ne pas bien s'y prendre. 

10 Ne pas le m^cher a quel- 

qu'un. 

1 1 Le pied lui manqua . . . 

12 — menus plaisirs ? 

13 — a mon insQu. 

14 C'est un plat de son metier. 

15 Mettre pied a terre . . . 

16 Autant que je puis m'en 

souvenir. 



58 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise LYIII. 

1 He it was who advised me to stand candidate. 

2 I have no objection to a game, if you do not play 

higli. 

3 He turns everything to account. 

4 Who was in the chair ? 

5 She has already five hundred pounds put by. 

6 He is always meddling. 

7 We appointed to meet the day after to-morrow. 

8 I should like to meet you in Paris. 

9 Let us go all together to meet him. 

1 He ought to be ashamed of himself. 

1 1 Yes ; he leads a scandalous life. 

12 Your horse is very shy. 

13 1 am at a stand. . 

14 We are beforehand with them. 

15 He bribed all the witnesses. 

16 1 am ashamed of you. 



1 Se mettre sur les rangs. 

2 Voiiloir bien faire une partie ; 

— gros jeu. 

3 Mettre tout a profit. 

4 Presider. 

5 Mettre de cote. 

6 Se meler ou Ton n'a que 

faire. 

7 Se donner rendez-vous. 

8 Se trouver avec quelqu'un. 



9 Aller a la rencontre de 
quelqu'un. 

10 Avoir honte. 

11 Mener une vie honteuse. 

12 — ombrageux. 

13 Me voDa les bras croises. 

14 Nous avons pris le devant. 

15 Gagner, or, suborner . . . 

16 Yous me faites honte. 



ON FEENCH PHRASEOLOGY. 



59 



EXEECISE LIX. 

1 I told my mind plainly. 

2 Slie does not know lier own mind. 

3 You have everything to your mind, yet you are 

dissatisfied. 

4 Well ! have you made up your mind about it ? 

5 That tune frequently recurs to my mind. 

6 You are trifling with me. 

7 I let him have his own way. 

8 It is always wise to bear up against misfortune. 

9 The sufferers, then, are to be punished. 

10 It is a piece of ignorance and presumption. 
Ill am going to fish. 

12 Holdfast. 

13 1 hinted to him that his visits were not acceptable. 

14 Go about your business. 

15 He has sprained his foot. 

16 Show me some stockings with open work. 



1 Dire franchement sa faQon de 

penser. 

2 Ne pas savoir ce qu'on veut. 

3 Avoir tout a souhait . . . 

4 Prendre son parti. 

5 Eevenir dans 1' esprit. 

6 Se jouer de quelqu'un. 

7 Laisser la bride sur le cou a 

quelqu'un. 

8 Faire contra fortune bon 



9 Les battus paieront done 
r amende. 

10 C'est Gros Jean qui re- 

montre a son cure. 

11 — a la pecbe. 

12 Tenir ferme. 

13 Insinuer a quelqu'un que . . . 

14 Passez votre cbemin. 

15 Se donner une entorse au 

pied. 

16 — des bas a jour. 



60 PRACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise LX. 



1 I take lessons every other day. 

2 How inquisitive you are. 

3 I am very short-sighted. 

4 I cannot stand that.] 

5 Your advice is not disinterested. 

6 I will do all my endeavours to succeed. 

7 Did he come to your terms ? 

8 It is not for want of looking after, but he is always 

so careless. 

9 He has the good sense to keep his distance. 

10 She dotes upon her children. 

1 1 Don't talk so to me ; do you take me for a fool ? 

1 2 The Doctor gave him over, but he is fast recovering. 

1 3 They treated him like an ignorant person. 

14 He spoke extempore for two hours. 

15 Customers flock to his shop. 

1 6 Their meeting was cold. 



10 Aimer passionnement . . , 

11 A d'auti^es . . . 

12 Abandonner un malade. 

Etre convalescent. 



1 — de deux jours I'un. 

2 Que de questions vous faites ! 

3 Avoir la vue basse. 

4 — soufirir cela. 

5 Yous etes orf evre, Mr. Josse. * I 13 Eenvoyer quelqu'un a 

6 J'y brulerai mes livres. | I'A B C. 

7 Acceder aux conditions de I 14 Parler d'abondance. 

quelqu'un. i 15 Les chalands abondent dans 

8 Ce n'est pas faute de soin, | son magasin. 

mais ... 16 Leur abord a ete froid. 

9 — se tenir a sa place. j 

* In Molifere's comedy of V Amour Mddicin, a silversmith, of the name of 
Josse, being consulted as to the best means of winning the heart of a certain 
lady, is for making her presents of jewellery. The lover observes in reply, 
" Vous etes orfevre. Monsieur Josse ;'^ that is to say, "Your advice is not 
disinterested." Hence the proverb. 



on feench phbaseology. 61 

Exercise LXI. 

1 What is the drift of your discourse ? 

2 My object is to secure myself from want. 

3 He is a pleasant, good-tempered man. 

4 It is a well-tasted pear. 

5 You will be appointed. — I hope it may happen. 

6 I saw it again in the dusk of the evening. 

7 I cannot see anybody ; I am engaged. 

8 He gave him a box on the face with all his might, 

and horsewhipped him afterwards. 

9 He easily takes fire ; do not provoke him. 

10 Eemind him of the saying, '^ Gr^sp all, lose all." 
Ill drank it at one draught. 

12 I see you enjoy yourselves here. 

13 Be cool, and hear me. 

14 You shall see them come in a sad plight. 

1 5 Who has more than enough ? 

16 1 shall be ready at all events. 



1 Ou aboutit tout ce que tous 

dites? 

2 Se mettre a I'abri du be- 

soin. 

3 Un homme d'un bon acabit. 

4 — une poire d'un bon acabit. 

5 — J' en accepte I'augure. 

6 — sur la brune. 

7 Etre occupe. 

8 Donner un soujfflet a tour de 

bras ; — donner des coups 
de cravacbe. 



9 Prendre feu — echauffer les 
oreilles a quelqu'un. 

10 — qui trop embrasse mal 

etreint. 

11 Avaler tout d'un trait. 

12 Se donner du bon temps. 

13 Xe pas s'emporter . . . 

14 — dans un triste equipage. 

15 En avoir de reste. 

16 Quoiqu'n arrive, je serai 

pret. 



62 



PEACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise LXII. 

1 Follow me, I am acquainted with, the house. 

2 If they go on in this way they will soon be ruined. 

3 At the sight of him I remained in astonishment. 

4 It will set your teeth on edge. 

5 He laid an emphasis upon the word. 

6 The boy is gone on an errand. 

7 Lord A — — is gone to reside upon his estate. 

8 A foolish question deserves no answer. 

9 He can bear that loss ; he is a very rich man. 

10 When he once launches out in a panegyric, there 

is no stopping him. 

11 The wise man takes things as they are. 

12 He is full thirty years of age. 

13 I reconciled him. 

14 A man who is drowning catches hold of any- 

thing. 

15 You don't speak the truth. 



1 Savoir les etres du logis. 

2 S'ils y vont de ce train . . . 

3 — tombai de mon haut. 

4 Agacer les dents. 

5 Appuyer sur . . . 

6 AUer faire une commission. 

7 Vivre dans ses terres. 

8 A sotte demande, point de 

reponse. 

9 Avoir les reins forts. 



10 Se repandre en eloges; — 

n'en pas finir. 

11 Savoir s'accommoder a 

tout. 

12 — Trente ans accomplis. 

13 Mettre des gens d' accord. 

14 — qui se noie, s'accroche 

a tout. 

15 jN'e pas accuser juste. 



ON FRENCH PHRASEOLOGY. 



63 



Exercise LXIII. 

1 I am on the look out. 

2 As for the other man, he went off fast enough. 

3 She must be on the decline. 

4 I must settle my affairs before I go. 

5 Can he forget himself so far ? 

6 All your friends rejoice in your good fortune. 

7 At the least word he gets into a passion. 

8 They are the cause of his being now out of employ. 

9 It would be a desirable match for him. 

1 I met him at a boarding-house. 

1 1 He patted me on the shoulder. 

12 Get this child's stockings patched. 

13 I lose all patience. 

14 The magistrate bound him to keep the peace. 

15 The pigeons are pecking at one another. 

16 You always run into extremes. 



1 Avoir I'oeil au guet. 

2 Ne pas demand er son reste. 

3 Etre sur le retour. 

4 Mettre ordre a ses affaires. 

5 — s'oublierjusqu'ace point. 

6 Prendre part au boniieur 

de qnelqu'un. 

7 Se mettre en colere. 

8 Etre sur le pave. 

9 — un bon parti. 

10 — pension bourgeoise. 



11 Donner un petit coup sur 

I'epaule. 

12 Faire mettre des pieces 

aux . . . 

13 Ma patience est a bout. 

14 Obliger quelqu'un sous cau- 

tion a ne pas commettre 
d'actes de yiolence. 

15 — se donnent des coups de 

bee. 

16 AUer du blanc au noir. 



64 



PBACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise LXIV. 

1 Everything duly considered, I will not accept the 

offer you made me. 

2 Come, come ; you will not make us believe such. 

things. 

3 The thing is true nevertheless. 

4 They indulge in pleasures. 

5 That will complete his ruin. 

6 Should it happen to rain, 'tis all over with the 

walk. 

7 I don't bid farewell ; we shall meet again. 

8 It is all over with it. 

9 She is extravagantly fond of music. 
10 The weather is getting milder. 
Ill can perform sleights of hand. 

12 He played us a deep trick. 

13 I have what you want. 

14 He will suit you exactly. 

15 Leave that to me. 

16 I take it upon me. 

17 He frequently gets into dijBGlculties. 



1 Toute reflexion faite . . . 


9 EUe adore . . . or, eUe foUe 


2 Laissez done ? . . . 


de. . . 


3 — ne laisse pas d'etre vrai. 


10 — s'adoucit. 


4 Nager dans les plaisirs. 


11 Faire des tours d'adresse. 


5 Yoila de quoi racliever. 


12 — un tour d'adresse. 


6 S'il vient a pleuvoir, adieu 


13 J'ai votre affaire. 


la promenade. 


14 11 fera votre affaire. 


7 Sans adieu ; — se re voir. 


15 C'est mon affaire. 


8 Adieu paniers, vendanges 


16 En faire son affaire. 


ont faites. 


17 Se faire des affaires. : 



on feench phkaseology. 65 

Exercise LXY. 

1 He pretends to liave much business on hand. 

2 It made him fly into a violent passion. 

3 He laughs at all the world can say. 

4 It is his misfortune to be blind of one eye. 

5 I can very well do without you. 

6 I mistook my road. 

7 I intend to sink that money. 

8 What is the day of the month ? 

9 My great coat is eaten ujd by moths, 

10 He needs not much entreaty. 

1 1 He has not his fellow. 

12 She is not out of mourning yet. 

13 The poor fellow will not live to be old. 

14 When I saw my horse run away, I gave myself 

up for lost. 

15 Enough for this once. 

16 He is of a suspicious tem^Der. 



1 Faii-e 1' affaire. 

2 — sauter jusqu'aux nues. 

3 Se moquer du qu'en dira- 

t-on. 



9 — tout ronge de vers. 

10 i^e se faire guere tirer 

r Oreille. 

11 Etre un original sans copie. 



4 Avoir le mallieiir d'etre i 12 X' avoir pas encore quitte le 

borgne. I deuil. 

5 Se passer de quelqu'iin. | 13 Xe pas faire de vienx os. 

6 Se tromper de cliemin. i 14 Prendre le mors aiix dents. 



7 Placer de 1' argent a fonds 

perdus. 

8 Quel quantieme du mois 

avons-nous ? 



— Se croire perdu. 

15 En voila assez pour cette 

fois. 

16 Tout lui fait ombra^e. 



66 



PRACTICAIi EXEECISES 



Exercise LXVI. 



1 I knew him though he was muffled up to the eyes 

in his cloak. 
He is always muttering something to himself. 
They will go through with it, whatever may be 

the result. 
Now we must think of dinner. 
The business is to make up one's mind. 
She plays the simpleton. 
Many hands make light work; or, every little helps. 

8 He is much fallen off. 

9 We have clipped his wings. 

10 I would rather do without it. 

1 1 Do you study no better ? 
.12 That's my temper. 

1 3 He looks sulky. 

14 He bears a slight resemblance to his cousin. 

15 It looks very like it. 

16 He has a brazen face. 



1 Ayoir le nez dans son man- 

teau. 

2 Marmotter entre ses dents. 

3 lis ne veulent pas en avoir 

le dementi. 

4 A present, il s'agit de diner. 

5 II s'agit de se decider. 

6 Elle fait r Agnes.* 

7 Un peu d'aide fait grand 

bien. 

8 Ne battre plus que d'une aile. 



9 Eogner les ongles a quel- 
qu'un. 

10 Aimer mieux s'en passer. 

11 Est-ce ainsi que voua etu- 

diez ? 

12 Je suis ainsi fait. 

13 Avoir I'air sournois. 

14 II a un faux air de son 

cousin. 

15 Cela en a tout I'air. 

16 — un front d'airain. 



* Agnbs, the name of the heroine of one of Moli^re's plays, whose cha- 
racte^i^5tic feature is simplicity. 



ON TBEI^CH PHEASEOLOGY. 



67 



EXEECISE LXYII. 

1 Be sure not to send for him ; lie friglitens them to 

death. 

2 I am very fond of home-made bread. 

3 Mind you don't forget it. 

4 It shall not be ; I shall prevent it. 

5 I asked him if he was married ; he told me he was. 

6 Come, mend your pace ; we are late. 

7 I am in great pain. 

8 That makes even money. 

9 On an average he makes two pounds a week. 

10 I will do it in my own defence. 

1 1 He wanted to sift me. 

12 Weigh well what you say. 

13 1 sympathize with you in your sorrows. 

14 I shall soon belong to your club. 

1 5 How shall I forward these letters to him ? 

16 He was rather offended. 



1 Se bien garder de faire venir 

quelqii'un. — Faire une 
frayeur mortelle a quel- 
qu'iin. 

2 — pain de menage. 

3 N'allez pas I'oublierj an 

moins. 

4 Y mettre bon ordre. 

5 Eepondre qu'oni. 

6 Doubler le pas. — Etre en 

retard. 

7 Souffi-ir beauconp. 

8 Un compte rond. 



L'un port ant 1' autre . . . 

— a mon corps defendant. 
Tirer les vers du nez a 

qiielqu'un ; or, plaider le 

faux pour savoir le vrai. 
Menager les termes. 
Prendre part aux peines de 

quelqu'un. 
Faire partie d'un club, or, 

cercle. 
Faire paryenir. 

— un peu pique. 



E 2 



68 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise LXVIII. 

1 I boarded in a family ; I found it very comfortable. 

2 The villain stabbed bim in several places. 

3 He overshot himself. 

4 He grows worse and worse. 

5 Cheer up, friends. 

6 How is your arm ? 

7 I will not say a word about it. 

8 He made a thrust at me, but he missed me. 

9 When we come to the push, we shall consider 

what course to take* 

10 He has got a footing in that house. 

11 He is very mischievous. 

12 I am in rapture. 

1 3 To-morrow is my birth-day. 

14 Send in your name. 

15 I made but a short visit. 

16 It is the duty of a father to chastise his children. 

17 She was not ill enough to send for the doctor. 



1 Se mettre en pension. 

2 Donner plusieurs coups de 

couteau a quelqu'un. 

3 Aller trop avant. 

4 Aller de mal en pis. 

5 Allons, mes enfants ! 

6 Comment va le bras ? 

7 Cela n'ira pas plus loin. 

8 Allonger une botte a quel- 

qu'un. 

9 Alors comme alors. 



10 S'ancrer dans une maison. 

11 — mecbant comme un ane 

rouge. 

12 Etre aux anges. 

13 C'est demain I'anniversaire 

de. . . 

14 Se faire annoncer. 

15 Je n'y ai fait qu'une appa- 

rition. 

16 II appartient a un p^re de . . 

17 — appeler le medecin. 



ON FBENCH PHRASEOLOGY. 



69 



Exercise LXIX. 



1 Slie grudges her servants the very bread they eat. 

2 I am very happy in the country. 

3 He passes himself off for a Pole. 

4 He is brought to a miserable pass. 

5 Had I been there, matters would never have been 

brought to that pass. 

6 They gave me a shuffling excuse, and went away. 

7 Why do you frown upon him ? 

8 Excuse him ; he did it in jest. 

9 They kept me the whole day in suspense. 

10 She is not pretty, but she has a good figure and 

a pretty carriage. 

1 1 Open the windows ; the room smells close. 

12 Do you feel anything from your wound ? 

13 1 long to hear from them. 

14 I am not a good hand at carving. 



1 Plaindre aux domestiques 

jusqu'au . . . 

2 Se plaire a . . . 

3 Se faire passer pour . . . 

4 Etre reduit a une triste si- 

tuation. 

5 — les choses n'en seraient 

jamais venues a un tel 
point. 

6 — defaite, et . . . 



7 Faire mauvaise mine a quel- 

qu'un. 

8 — pour rire. 

9 — le bee dans I'eau. 

10 — la taille bien faite — jolie 

tournure. 

11 Sentir le renferme. 

12 Ne plus se sentir de . . . 

13 Briiler d'envie de . . . 

14 Ne pas s' entendre 

couper. 



de- 



70 



PEACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise LXX. 



1 She has never been to town ; she wishes very 

much to go. 

2 I am a bachelor, and my sister will remain single 

also, as long as I do not marry. 
That is good, good indeed. 
I thank myself for having thought of it. 
He takes to himself everything that is said. 
He is welcome who brings. 
You must spoil before you spin. 

8 He promised to say a few words in behalf of my 

request. 

9 The cold has set in bitterly. 

10 They complain that he ever hangs about them. 

1 1 He can live without that. 

12 You maintain I have done wrong; what of it? 

13 Is this portrait drawn after life ? 

14 He will side with the strongest. 

15 No one could bend his bow. 

16 He is a most senseless man. 



1 Mourir d'envie de . . . 

2 Etre gar90ii — Rester fille. 

3 Yoila ce qui s'appelle bon. 

4 S'applaiidir de . . . 

5 S'appliquer tout ce qu'ondit. 

6 Bien venu qui apporte. 

7 Apprenti n'est pas maitre. 

8 Dire quelque chose a I'appui 

de la demande de quel- 
qu'un. 



9 Le froid commence bien 
aprement. 

10 Etre toujours apres quel- 

qu'un. 

11 II n' attend pas apres cela. 

12 Pretendre que — ; Eb bien, 

apres ? 

13 — fait d' apres nature ? 

14 Se tecir au gros de I'arbre. 

15 Bander un arc. 

16 — un arcbi-fou. 



0:N' FEE2TCH PHEASEOLOGY. 71 

EXEECISE LXXI. 

1 I stood up for him. 

2 He still follows the same course. 
They are all gone to a watering-place. 

4 She has a forbidding gravity which chills me. 

5 I have great mind to tell it them. 

6 He is undone. 

7 They may do as they like ; I leave them full liberty- 

8 What is the best thing to stop the hiccough ? 

9 I gave him several hints that he was the laughing- 

stock of all the company. 

10 I am over head and ears in business. 

11 He expects great pleasure from his visit to you. 

12 He has brought himseK into a bad predicament. 

13 If he does not succeed, it will not be my fault. 



1 Prendre fait et cause pour , S — faire passer le hoqiiet. 

quelqu'un. 9 Donner a entendre a qnel- 

2 AUer toiijours son meme qu'un. — Etre le jouet 

train. de . . . 

3 — an bord de la mer. 10 AToir des affaii'es par-des- 

4 — un serieux qui glace. , sus la tete. 

— Peu s"en faut que je ne le 11 Se faire un grand plaisir 

leur dise. j d'aller voir quelqu'un. 

6 C'en est fait de lui. ; 12 Se niettre dans un grand 

7 Qu'ils fassent comme bon embarras. 

leur semblera ; je les en 13 II ne tiendi-a pas a moi qu'il 

laisse les maitres. 1 ne reussisse. 



72 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise LXXII. 

1 He always leaves his papers scattered about liia 

closet. 

2 There is some snake in the grass. 

3 'Tis as good as ready money. 

4 Your promises are very good, but your money 

would be better. 

5 It is a cant word. 

6 She is very quick-sighted. 

7 Let us fence ; here are foils, masks and gloves. 

8 Please yourself. 

9 You give up an enterprise that would succeed. 

10 I am one month behind-hand. 

1 1 All men seek after happiness. 

1 2 They contended for superiority in wit. 

1 3 He besets me the whole day. 

14 Trust in God. 

15 First, we must arrest him. 

16 1 have bought a house-dog. 

1 7 He is now out of reach. 



1 Laisser trainer ses papiers. 

2 II y a anguille sous roche. 

3 — de Tor en barre. 

4 Tout cela est bel et bon, mais 

de r argent vaut mieux. 

5 — terme d' argot. 

6 Avoir des yeux d' Argus. 

7 Faire des armes. 

8 S' arranger. 

9 S'arreter en beau ebemin. 



10 Etre en arriere d'un mois. 

11 Aspirer au bonheur. 

12 Faire assaut d' esprit. 

13 Assieger quelqu'un. 

14 Mettre son assurance ei 

Dieu. 

15 S' assurer de quelqu'un. 

16 — cbien d'attacbe. 

17 — bors d'atteinte. 



ON FRENCH PHEASEOLOGY. 



73 



EXEBCISE LXXIII. 

1 The police is at his heels. 

2 What profession does he follow ? 

3 The duke's blinds are mnsket-proof. 

4 He was a merchant ; he has left off business these 

two years. 

5 That sign projects too much into the street. 

6 This does not fall within my province. 

7 He put out his hand towards me and said. 

8 He told it me by word of mouth. 

9 Ten soldiers have been quartered upon that pub- 

lican these three weeks. 

10 E-availlac, the assassin of Henry the Fourth, was 

drawn and quartered. 

1 1 Doctor Baillie ranked first among physicians. 

12 They have engaged a first-rate musician. 

13 1 am glad of it ; I delight in music. 

14 Pray read to yourself. 



1 On a mis la police a ses 

trousses. 

2 Exercer une profession. 

3 Les persiennes — a I'epreuve 

du mousqnet. 

4 Se retirer des affaires. 

5 — avance trop sur . . . 

6 Cela n'est pas de mon res- 

sort. 



7 Etendre la main vers . . . 

8 — de vive voix. 

9 Etre loge chez quelqu'un. 

10 Tirer a quatre clievaux. 

1 1 Tenir le premier rang . . 

12 — du premier ordre. 

13 Etre fou de la musique. 

14 Lire des yeux. 



74 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise LXXIV. 



1 Is lie not a very handsome man ? 

2 It is an evasion ; he will fail us. 

3 They pursue him incessantly. 

4 I am sure of it ; I would venture my life upon it. 

5 It is a bad habit ; I will get rid of it. 

6 They asked me in, and there was no possibility of 

escape. 

7 He draws very like, does he not ? 

8 He got entrapped. 

9 Tou grieve without cause. 

10 He lives with a nobleman of high rank. 

1 1 Give me as much more. 

12 Do the same, if you can. 

13 Other people's misfortunes affect us but little. 

14 What odds did you give him ? 

15 I have taken a great dislike to him. 

16 In the land of the blind, one-eyed people are kings. 



1 N'est-ce pas qu'il est fait a 

peindre. 

2 — faux-fuyant. — Faire faux 

bond a quelqu'un. 

3 Donner la chasse a quel- 

qii'iin. 

4 — en mettre sa main an feu. 

5 — je m'en deferai. 

6 N'y avoir pas moyen de s'en 

defendre. 

7 Attraper bien la ressem- 

blance. 



8 Se laisser attraper. 

9 S'attrister mal a propos. 

10 Etre aupres d'un grand 

seigneur. 

11 — une fois autant. 

12 Faites-en autant . . . 

1 3 Mal d' autrui n' est que songe. 

14 Quel avantage . . . 

15 Prendre quelqu'un en aver- 

sion. . 

16 Au royaume des aveugles 

les borgnes sont rois. 



ON PEENCH PHRASEOLOGY. 75 

EXEECISE LXXV. 

1 If you like it, do not spare it. 

2 They will cut out work for you. 

3 I see lie is very knowing. 

4 That makes him very unhappy, but I cannot help it. 

5 You make game of everything. 

6 He must put on his regimentals to go. 

7 Must he ? 

b Send him about his business. 

9 He ought not to look to me for it. 

10 I have walked ten miles this morning ; I am 

knocked up. 

11 Those two lawyers vie in cunning. 

12 We could not make the dog let go his hold. 

13 At last he has a home ; for a long time he had 

neither house nor harbour. 

14 I will see you at home to-night. 

15 Be sure that, in the end, it will come home to you. 

16 It is High Dutch to me. 



1 — ne vous en faites pas faute. 

2 Donner du fil a retordre. 

3 En savoir long. 

4 Rendre Hen malhenreux ; — 

ne savoir qu'y faire. 
Se rire de tout. 

6 Se mettre en nniforme. 

7 Est-ce de rigueur ? 



9 — en faire quelqu'un res- 
ponsable. 

10 Faire . . . Etre rendu. 

11 Jouer au plus fin. 

12 Faire lacher prise a . . . 

13 Avoir un cliez soi. — 

jS"' avoir ni feu, ni lieu. 

14 Eeconduire quelqu'un cliez 

lui. 



8 Envoy er quelqu'un pro- \ 15 Eetomber sur quelqu'un. 
mener. I 16 X'y entendre goutte. 



76 



PRACTICAIi EXERCISES 



Exercise LXXYI. 

1 What is bred in the bone can never be got out of 

the flesh. 

2 It is a fair warning for one to stand on his guard. 

3 He has a great deal of talk. 

4 He always walks swinging his arms. 

5 He is too grave for his age. 

6 Your copy-book is scribbled all over. 

7 He is very swift-footed. 

8 There he stood gazing foolishly. 

9 For all you can say and do, that will not be. 

10 He set the fox to keep the geese. 

1 1 He has more words than deeds. 

12 He is in the utmost distress. 

13 Come, don't be silly. 

1 4 He died rich. 

15 He acted honourably. 

16 He has anticipated his revenue. 

17 He is offended at your neglect. 



1 Chassez le naturel, il revient 

au galop.* 

2 C'est un avis au lecteur. 

3 Avoir beaucoup de babil. 

4 Aller les bras ballans. 

5 Faire le barbon. 

6 — tout barbouille. 

7 Courir comme un Basque. 

8 II etait la qui baillait aux 

corneilles. 

9 Vous avez beau dire et beau 

faire, . . . 



10 Enfermer le loup dans la 

bergerie. 

11 Faire plus de bruit que de 

besogne. 

12 Etre dans un pressant be- 

soin. 

13 Ne pas faire la bete. 

14 Laisser de grands biens. 

15 — en tout bien et en tout 

bonneur. 

16 Manger son ble en berbe. 

17 II est blesse de votre oubli. 



* A line from Boileau's Art Poetxgue, 



0]S FBENCH PHEASEOLOaY. 



77 



Exercise LXXVII. 

1 I have just taken my leave of Mr. and Mrs. B . 

2 Follow my advice, do not meddle with. it. 

3 I am obliged to do it anew. 

4 He would give anything to get out of that scrape. 

5 Don't be inconsistent, 

6 He has very eccentric manners. 

7 If any one dares take it, he will have to deal with 

me. 

8 You make me mad ; leave my house instantly, 

9 He levelled his gun at me. 

1 He is, without question, the most skilful of all. 

1 1 Prince T was in the church, but he forsook 

his profession. 

12 Open the street-door. 

13 I don't want his advice. 

14 I begin to be used to it. 

15 They stood out bravely to the last. 

16 Habits ever remain. 



1 Faire ses adieux a quel- 

qii'un. 

2 Ne pas s'y frotter. 

3 — sur nouveaux frais. 

4 Donner tout au monde pour 

se tirer d'un mauvais 
pas. 

5 S'accorder avec soi-meme. 

6 — qui n'appartiennent qu'a 

lui. 

7 Avoir affaire a quelqu'un. 



8 Pousser quelqu'un a bout ; 

— sortez de chez moi. 

9 Coucher quelqu'un en joue. 

10 — sans contredit . . . 

1 1 Jeter le froc aux orties. 

12 — qui donne sur la rue. 

13 N' avoir que faire de . . . 

14 Commencer a s'y faire. 

15 Se defendre bravement jus- 

qu'a I'extremite. 

16 Qui a bu boira. 



78 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise LXXVIII. 

1 One may be little and good. 

2 One is very snug there. 

3 He is very hasty. 

4 We have so much to spare. 

5 That portends no good. 

6 He makes a great deal of money. 

7 I will soon silence him. 

8 The news is spread everywhere. 

9 He repeats that continually. 

10 They are going to fire ; stop your ears. 

1 1 He looks sulky at me. 

1 2 You have worked and toiled to no purpose. 

13 Your coat is wrinkled. 

14 1 must have another made ; this is worn out. 

15 He is as mad as a March hare. 

16 He has an extensive power. 

1 7 He stammered out a sorrycompliment, and sat down. 

18 Make haste to strike a light. 



1 Dans les petites boites sont 

les bons onguens. 

2 On y est comme dans une 

boite. 

3 Avoir la tete pres du bon- 

net. 

4 Avoir tant de bon. 

5 Cela n'annonce rien de bon. 

6 Mettre du foin dans ses 

bottes. 

7 Fermer la boncbe a quel- 

qu'un. 

8 — va de boucbe en boucbe. 



a la 



pour 



9 Avoir toujours cela 
boucbe. 

10 Se boucber les oreilles. 

11 Bonder quelqu'un. 

12 Faire de la bouillie 

les cbats. 

13 — fait la grimace. 

14 En faire faire un autre; — 

avoir fait son temps. 

15 Etre fou comme un braque. 

16 Avoir les bras longs. 

17 Bredouiller un mauvais 

compliment. 

18 Battre le briquet. 



ON ERENCH PHRASEOLOGY. 



79 



Exercise LXXIX. 

1 That carriage lias quite jaded me. 

2 I forgot to buy some blotting-paper. 

8 He did all lie could to embroil the matter. 

4 Will you have some mulled wine ? 

5 I know what people think of it. 

6 He lodges at a paltry pot-house. 

7 He does it openly. 

8 I went with my younger brother. 

9 Let me count again ; I think I am mistaken. 

10 He is ever ready to change sides. 

1 1 The troops will soon take the field. 

12 You are finely off. 

13 1 have sketched out my work. 

14 That hall will hold three hundred people. 

15 That shows a bad temper. 

1 6 You put him out of his temper. 

17 They all make much of him. 

18 1 don't choose to do that ; I have my reasons for it. 



1 Cette voiture m'a brise. 

2 — du papier brouillard. 

3 — brouiller les cartes. 

4 — du vin brule. 

5 Savoir I'air du bureau. 

6 — cabaret borgne. 

7 Ne s'en point cacher. 

8 — frere cadet. 

9 Se tromper dans son calcul. 

10 C'est un vrai cameleon. 

11 Se mettre en campagne. 

12 Yous voila bien campe. 



13 Faire le canevas de son 

ouvrage. 

14 Cette salle est capable de 

contenir . . . 

15 Cela annonce un mauvais 

caractere. 

16 Faire sortir quelqu'un de 

son caractere. 

17 Faire des caresses a quel- 

qu'un. 

18 Je ne veux pas le faire, et 

pour cause. 



80 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise LXXX. 



1 He is very cross to-day. 

2 He will tease you eternally, till you grant him his 
request. 

Is that all ? 

She left off crying. 

He ran into danger in trying to avoid it ; or he 

trusted to his foe. 
A man's house is his castle. 
Let us try again. 

8 It is a good horse that never stumbles. 

9 Have all the witnesses for the prosecution been 

examined ? 

10 I advised you to behave yourself. 

1 1 He follows in the steps of his forefathers. 

12 I advised him not to encroach upon your rights. 

13 He scampered away in haste. 

14 Those shoes fit well. 

1 5 They will cut out work for him. 

16 There is nothing like a miser's feast. 

17 Indeed, it is hard work. 

18 He took a violent remedy. 



1 Etre de bien mauvaise hu- 

meur. 

2 II n'aura point de cesse que 

vous ne lui ayez donne ce 
qu'il demande. 

3 N'est-ce que cela ? 

4 Cesser de pleurer. 

5 Venir se bruler a la clian- 

delle. 

6 Le charbonnier est maitre 

dans sa maison. 

7 Retourner a la charge. 

8 II n'y a si bon cbarretier qui 

ne verse. 



9 — temoins a charge . . . 

10 Je vous conseille de char- 

rier droit. 

11 Bon chien chasse de race. 

12 JSTe pas chassei sur lesterres 

de quelqu'un. 

13 Sortir un pied chausse et 

r autre nu. 

14 Chausser. 

15 On lui fera voir bien du 

chemin. 

16 11 n'est chere que de vilain. 

17 — travail de cheval. 

18 — remede de cheval. 



END OF PART I. 



ON FEEJN-CH PHEASEOLOGY. 



PART THE SECOND.* 



EXEECISE LXXXI. 

1 I pardon you, thoiigb. you do not deserve it ; but 

I forbid you my house. 

2 Are those your intentions ? Yes, they are. 

3 They will make up for the loss of time. 

4 When he returns I will give him a severe reprimand. 

5 Either you or I will go to the exhibition with him. 

6 You must not take that literally. 

7 I cannot recollect it ; I had it at my tongue's end 

just now. 

8 She indulges her children too much. 

9 He indulges all his wishes. 

10 They abuse each other all day. 

1 1 You do him wrong if you think him guilty of such 

meanness. 

12 The drum is beating ; they are mustering the troops. 



1 Faire grace a — Interdiie sa 

maison a . . . 

2 Sont-ce la . . ? — ce les sont. 

3 Eeparer le temps perdu. 

4 Layer la tete a . . . 

— I'tih de nous deux . . . 

6 — au pied de la lettre. 

7 Se rappeler quelque chose ; 



— r avoir sur le bord des 
levres. 

8 Gater trop ... 

9 'Ne se rien refuser 

10 Se dire des injures. 

11 Faire injure a — croire ca- 

pable de . . . 

12 Battre le tambour — assem- 

bler les troupes. 



* Less assistance will now te given in the formation of the sentences. 
G 



82 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise LXXXII. 

1 Tour brother's conduct lias injured him greatly. 

2 I shall get off for a few pounds. 

3 I told it to no one ; ask no more questions. 

4 I saw him give you a significant look. 

5 I cried as loud as I could, Beware ! 

6 It was decided by a majority of votes. 

7 There is nothing I wish more than to make it up 

with him. 

8 You shot above the mark. 

9 She married beneath herself. 

10 Do not be uneasy ; I am a match for him. 

1 1 He has never found his match yet. 

12 It is a matter of astonishment to me. 

13 1 hope you will settle the matter amicably be- 

tween yourselves. 



1 — liii a fait bien du tort. 

2 En etre quitte pour . . . 

3 Ne le dire a qui que ce soit. — 

Ne plus faire de questions. 

4 Faire un clin d'oeil a . . . 

5 Crier a tue tete : gare. 

6 — a la pluralite des voix. 

7 Ne demander pas mieux que 

de se racommoder, or se 
reconcilier ayec . . . 



8 Tirer trop haut. — Etre loin 

du but. 

9 Se mesallier. 

10 Etre en etat de tenir tete 

a . . . 

1 1 Ne pas trouver plus fort que 

soi. 

12 — une chose qui etonne. 

13 S' arranger a 1' amiable. 



ON FRENCH PHEASEOLOGY. 



83 



Exercise LXXXIII. 



1 If you want Mr. B , I will go for him. 

2 How will you go? I will walk there. You had 

better ride. 

3 You will be back by nine, of course. 

4 Go to your father, and ask him if he means to 

attend our concert this day week. 

5 Marriage requires much consideration; for the 

happiness of life depends upon it. 

6 I see that he must be kept under. 

7 How hot he is ! No wonder ; he ran full speed. 

8 He is very poorly ; constant labour has impaired 

his health. 

9 When he found that he had made a gross mistakes 

he was very angry ; so much so, that his feature, 
were quite distorted. 

10 Pshaw! You jest; you talk nonsense. 

1 1 Your brother is so altered that I did not recognise 

him. 

12 I am very thirsty. So am I. 



1 Aller cherclier . . . 

2 Aller a pied — a clieval. 

3 Etre de retour a . . . Cela va 

sans dire. 

4 Aller trouver . . . Assister 

a — d'aujourd'hui en hnit. 

5 Demander de la reflexion-— 

il y va du . . . 

6 Tenir la bride haute a . . . 



7 Cela n'est pas etonnant — 

Courir a bride abattue. 

8 Etre bien mal — un travail 

assidu a altere . . . 

9 Faire iin pas de clerc — avoir 

les traits alteres. 

10 Se moquer^Battre la cam- 

pagne. 

11 Etre change. 

12 Etre tres-altere. 



84 



PRACTICAL EXEBCISES 



Exercise LXXXIV. 

1 I must have tliis waistcoat altered ; it does not 

fit me. 

2 Six of us are going to Eichmond : we shall go at 

ten in the morning. Will you be one of us ? 

3 I shall be very happy to make one. 

4 We have two more places to call at. 

5 I called twice at my bookseller's. 

6 My friend is returned from the country; let us 

call on him. 

7 He is making very bold, 

8 Let him not venture again to speak to you in this 

manner. 

9 His wife was so ill that he sat up with her. 

10 1 cannot stay later ; for my friend is sitting up for 

me, and I know he does not like to keep late 
hours. 

1 1 What news have you to tell me ? 

12 Is that the first beU ? 

13 You will not get a single word from that man. 

14 I wish to clear that point. 



1 Faire retouclier a — Ne pas 

aller. 

2 Partir a dix heures. — Etre 

des notres. 

3 — etre de la partie. 

4 N' avoir plus que deux per- 

sonnes a voir. 

5 Passer chez. 

6 Aller voir. 

7 Prendre de grandes liberies. 



8 Qu'il ne lui arrive plus de . . 

9 Yeiller .... 

10 Attendre. — Aimer a se 

coucher de bonne beure. 

11 — avez-vous a nous ap- 

prendre ? 

12 — le premier coup ? 

1 3 Arracber une parole de . . 

14 En avoir le coeur net. 



ON FRENCH PHRASEOLOGY. 



85 



Exercise LXXXY. 

1 He is never at a loss ; lie finds a plaster for every 

sore. 

2 Wliat ! still alive ! lie will live for ever. 

3 Where a horse is tethered he is to graze. 

4 Give a dog a bad name, and then hang him. 

5 It is left to your own option. 

6 It is daylight at eight o'clock in the evening. 

7 Your friend makes a bustle in the world now. 

8 He cannot walk any more ; his feet are blistered. 

9 He can stay ; he is master of his own time. 

10 Before you condemn, you must hear both sides. 

11 Trust me ; I will give him as good as he brings. 

12 He seems to like his business. 

13 He knows nothing of the matter. 

14 Her hair was dressed admirably. 



1 Trouver a chaque trou une 

cheville. 

2 Avoir Tame chevillee dans 

le corps. 

3 Ou la chevre est attachee il 

faut qu'elle broute. 

4 Quand on vent noyer son 

chien, on dit qn'il a la rage. 

5 C'est a voire choix. 

6 On voit clair a . . . 

7 Faire bien claquer son fouet. 



8 Avoir des cloches aux 

pieds. 

9 N'etre pas sujet au coup de 

cloche. 

10 Entendre les deux cloches. 

1 1 Eiver le clou a . . . 

1 2 Avoir le coeur au metier. 

13 II s'y entend comme a faire 

un coffre. 

14 Elle etait coiffee a ravir. 



86 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise LXXXVI. 



1 That poem is of no ordinary stamp. 

2 That is enough to drive away customers. 

3 How long will it be before he comes back ? 

4 Who does not know it? It is everybody's secret. 

5 I intrust you with the care of it. 

6 My temper does not agree with his. 

7 It does not matter, one makes up for the other. 

8 I must order a suit of clothes for my servant. 

9 Is he a good accountant ? 

10 I make myself answerable for it. 

11 Live and let live. 

12 You shall answer for his behaviour. 

13 1 hope you make some difference between me and 

those people. 

14 He is quite altered ; you would not know him. 

15 Everybody knows him. 

16 Advisers run no risk. 

17 He means no offence in all he says. 



1 — marque au bon coin. 

2 — cliasser les pigeons du co- 

lombier. 

3 Dans combien de temps sera- 

t-il de ret our ? 

4 — c'est le secret de la come- 

die. 

5 Je commets cela a yotre 

soin. 

6 Mon bumeur n'est pas com- 

patible avec . . . 

7 — cela se compense. 

8 — un habit complet . . . 

9 Entendre bien la compta- 

bilite. 



10 Prendre quelque chose sur 

son compte. 

11 II faut que chacun y trouve 

son compte. 

12 C'est a vous a repondre de . . 

13 J'espere que vous ne me 

confondez pas avec . . . 

14 — fort change— jST'etre pas 

reconnaissable. 
lo II est connu comme le loup 
blanc. 

16 Les conseilleurs ne sont pas 

les payeurs. 

17 Tout ce qu'il dit est sans 

consequence. 



OK rRENCH PHRASEOLOGY. 



87 



Exercise LXXXVII, 

1 We sat up writing till half-past one in tlie morning, 

2 He hurt his hand ; I expected it. 

3 Who are the ladies who attended her majesty? 

4 Tell him that I will attend him in a minute. 

5 They speak altogether to me ; I do not know which 

to attend to first. 

6 He romances pretty welL 

7 My dear child, you are very free with your money. 

8 Try to make both ends meet. 

9 I told you it was not safe jesting with him. 

10 1 have only one question to ask him. 

1 1 You cannot go back now. 

12 I will do it; nothing shall prevent me. 

13 Let us go no further. 

14 The crowd thickens : let us get out of it. 



1 Rester a . , . 

2 — je ni'y attendais. 

3 Accompagner . . . 

4 Etre a . . . 

5 Ne savoir auquel entendre. 

6 Broder comme il faut. 

7 — r argent ne to us eoute 

gueres. 



8 Tacher de joindre les deux 

boTits. 

9 Qu'il ne faisait pas bon se 

jouer a lui. 

10 Faire nne question. 

11 S'en dedire. 

12 N'en pas avoir le dementi. 

13 En demeurer la. 

14 Grossir — S'en tirer. 



88 



PEACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise LXXXVIII. 



1 I should not like to trouble him so often. 

2 Bonnets of that shape are out of fashion. 

3 She keeps entirely to herself since the death of her 

husband. 

4 He had an income of ^Ye hundred a year. 

5 If it is inconvenient to you, say so. 

6 I indulge myself now and then with an ice. 

7 Mr. A-^ 's brother is in a state of insanity. 

8 Mothers are wrong who indulge their daughters 

with novels. 

9 He is undone to all intents and purposes. 

10 We have already played two games. 

1 1 My fencing-master and his have had a match. 

12 He has turned soldier. 

13 You have bought your gig second hand, have 

you not ? 

14 1 shall take care not to send you there again. 

15 1 hope you do not take it amiss of me. 



1 Deranger quelqu'iin. 

2 N'etre plus a la mode. 

3 Se derober a tons 1 

gards. 

4 Avoir un revenu de . . 

5 Gener quelqu'un. 

6 Se regaler de . . . 

7 Etre en demence. 



8 Permettre a 



des ro- 



9 — mine de fond en comble. 

10 Faire des parties. 

11 Faire assaut. 

12 Se faire soldat. 

13 — de rencontre. 

14 Se bien garder de . . . 

15 — que vous ne m'en savez 

pas mauvais gre. 



ON FEENCH PHRASEOLOGY. 



89 



ExEECisE LXXXIX. 

1 There were in the pit fifty persons in all, and as 

many in the boxes. 
You have got me change, but the sum is not right. 
You are right ; it is eighteenpence short. 
I tell you again, this is going too far. 
I excuse them because they did not know better. 
He knocked down the man who had laughed in 

his face. 

7 I told him so several times. 

8 I will not admit him again ; I left particular or- 

ders to that effect. 

9 How unfortunate he is ! Everything is against him. 

10 They all went and surrendered. 

1 1 He seems well pleased with himself. 

12 He spends his property extravagantly. 

13 The rail-road is going on. 

14 I see that disappoints you much. 

15 Don't buy that ; it has been smuggled. 

16 That man sells only smuggled goods. 



1 II y avait tout en gros . . . 

2 — de la monnaie — Le 

compte n'y est pas. 

3 — il s'en faut de . . 

4 — cela passe la raillerie. 

5 Ne pas savoir se conduire. 

6 Jeter par terre d'un coup 

de poing. — Eire au nez 
de. . . 

7 — a plusieurs reprises. 

8 — je I'ai consigne a ma 

porta. 



9 — tout conspire contre lui. 

10 Se constituer prisonnier. 

11 Etre content de sa petite 

personne. 

12 Consumer son bien en folie. 

13 Le chemin de-fer se con- 
tinue. 

14 Contrarier beaucoup . . . 

15 — c'est entre en contre- 

bande. 

16 — des marcbandises de con- 

trebande. 



90 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise XC. 

1 That admits of no reply. 

2 He had disguised his hand- writing. 

3 He misconstrues everything. 

4 He thinks you have been accessory to his misfortune. 

5 Lavalette escaped from prison before his trial ; sen- 

tence of death was passed upon him all the same. 

6 It is fit you should do it. 

7 We had a long talk together. 

8 None go worse shod than shoemakers' wives. 

9 He is very much reformed in that particular. 

10 They were walking abreast on the bulwark. 

1 1 There was no room either in the boxes or in the 

pit, so I went behind the scenes. 

1 2 He is a good shot ; he hits every time. 

13 They beat him to death with cudgels. 

14 He missed his aim twice ; how awkward. 

15 The razor you lent me is very sharp. 

16 That boy is very sharp. 



1 — est sans contredit. 

2 Contrefaire son ecriture. 

3 Prendre tout a contre-sens. 

4 Contribuer au malheur de . . 

5 Condamner quelqu'un a mort 

par contumace. 

6 II est convenable que . . . 

7 S'entretenir long-temps en- 

semble. 

8 Les cordonniers sent les plus 

mal cbausses. 



9 II s'est Men corrige de cela. 

10 Marcher cote a cote. 

11 — loges — parterre. — Dans 

les coulisses. 

12 II tire bien ; il ne tire pas 

un coup qui ne porte. 

13 Tuer a coups de baton. 

14 Manquer son coup. 

15 — coupe bien. 

16 Avoir Fesprit vif, penetrant. 



ON EEEIS'CH PHEASEOLOGY. 



91 



EXEECISE XOI. 

1 It would have been wiser to have laughed the 

thing off. 

2 We heard loud peals of laughter. 

3 That gentleman has been there dancing attendance 

for the last two hours. 

4 He must do it at his leisure. 

5 You provoke me ; you hint at me. 

6 The thing is of no less importance to them than 

the loss of their pension. 

7 Have you done ? Mr. D has just sent for the 

book. 

8 Pray move a little ; you stand in my light. 

9 As for us, we consider the matter in a different 

light. 
10 That's very much like my brother. 
Ill will repay him in kind. 

12 We did it by dint of exertion. 

13 He anticipates much pleasure from going to Paris. 

14 He is at his last stake. 



1 Tourner la chose en plaisan- 

terie. 

2 — de grands eclats de rire. 

3 II y a deux lieures que — 

croqner le marmot. 

4 — lieures perdues. 

5 Jeter des pierres dans le 

jardin de quelqu'un. 

6 II ne s'agit de rien moins 

que de . . . 



7 Faire demander . . . 

8 Oter le jour a quelqu'un. 

9 — sous un autre point ( 

vue. 

10 Je reconnais la mon frere. 

1 1 Eendre la pareille a . . . 

12 — a force de peines. 

13 Se faire une fete de . . . 

14 Jouer de son reste. 



92 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise XCII. 

1 I feel obliged to you for this attention. 

2 I do not see any way to serve your friend in this 

matter. 

3 We forced our way through the crowd. 

4 He says he lives from hand to mouth. 

5 You must not be so very particular. 

6 He knows the news of the day. 

7 It grieves me to tell you, but I must. 

8 They were speaking in an ambiguous manner. 

9 The weather is getting overcast. 

10 I sold him my claims. 

1 1 He wears a mourning hat-band. 

12 I heard him scream as loud as he could. 

13 He fleeces one without noise. 

14 Pleasures have a sting in their tails. 

15 The first attempts of that actor were not successful. 



1 S avoir gre a quelqu'un d'une 

prevenance. 

2 Ne pas voir jour a servir . . . 

3 Se faire jour . . . 

4 — au jour le jour. 

5 II ne faut pas y regarder de 

si pres. 

6 Etre au courant de ce qui se 

passe. 

7 II m'en coute de . . . 

8 Parler a mots converts. 



9 Le temps se couvre. 

10 Vendre une creance. 

11 Porter un crepe a son cha- 

peau. 

12 Crier comme un perdu. 

13 Plumer la poule sans la 

faire crier. 

14 Les plaisirs ont leur de- 

boire. 

15 Les debuts de cet acteur 

n'ont pas ete beureux. 



ON FKENCH PHEASEOLOGY. 



93 



Exercise XCIII. 

1 He cannot write his own name. 

2 I give myself up to study. 

3 I wish you would rid me of that troublesome man. 

4 Those goods will sell very well. 

5 I write with a bad pen for want of a better one. 

6 He baffled my penetration. 

7 It is so ; I don't deny it. 

8 Distrust is the mother of safety. 

9 We take a lunch at twelve o'clock. 

10 Her whole delight is in her children. 

1 1 "What a luxury ! 

12 He longs to be out. 

13 He has taken a wrong step. 

14 Who is going to make the first step ? 

15 True virtue is always the same. 

16 He has put his arm out of joint. 

17 1 shall soon be ahead of him. 

18 I should not dislike to stay in his place. 

19 He dislikes company. 



1 Decliner son nom. 

2 Se dedier a . . . 

3 Defaire quelqu'un d'un im- 

portun. 

4 — sont de defaite. 

5 — au defaut d'line meil- 

leure. 

6 Mettre en defaut la pene- 

tration de . . . 

7 — je ne m'en defends pas. 

8 La defiance est mere de 

surete. 

9 Faire un second dejeune. 



10 Ses enfants font toutes ser 

delices. 

1 1 Quel delice ! 

12 Les pieds lui demangent. 

13 Faire une fausse demarche. 

14 Faire les premieres de- 

marches. 

15 La veritable vertu ne se 

dement point. 

16 Se demettre le bras. 

17 Depasser quelqu'un. 

18 Je ne me deplairais pas ici. 

19 Se deplaire en . . . 



94 



PRACTICAL EXEECISES 



Exercise XCIV. 

1 He took me unawares. 

2 He does not put himself out of the way for any one. 

3 At these words his countenance brightened up. 

4 It is an affair of the utmost importance. 

5 I saw him these few days past. 

6 I was fortunate enough to conceal it from them. ^ 

7 That work is perfect. 

8 He satisfies us fully. 

9 I am above minding what people say. 

10 He did all he could to set the members of that 

family at variance. 

1 1 The ribbon of your bonnet is coming off. 

12 For whom is he in mourning ? 

13 It is pretty generally known. 

14 There has been a small difference between them. 

15 That man is for ever starting objections. 

1 6 That is like him ; he does things handsomely. 



1 Prendre quelqu'un an de- 

pourvu. 

2 Ne se deranger pour . . . 

3 Se derider le front. 

4 — de la derniere importance. 

5 — ces jours derniers. 

6 Derober quelque chose a la 

connaissance de quelqu'un. 

7 II n'y a rien a desirer dans 

cet ouvrage. 

8 Ne laisser rien a desirer a . . . 

9 Se mettre au dessus du qu'en 

dira-t-on. 



10 Mettre la desunion dans 

une famille. 

11 Se detacher. 

12 De qui est-il en deuil ? 

13 II ne faut pas aller au devin 

pour en etre instruit. 

14 Avoir quelques difficultes 

ensemble. 

15 Etre le pere des difficultes. 

16 Cela est digne de lui. — 

Faire les choses digne- 
ment. 



OIT FUEISTCH PHEASEOLOQY. 



95 



EXEECISE XCV. 

1 What a stranger you are ! We have not seen you 

these three weeks. 

2 You find fault with everything. 

3 Many women in France knit for their living. 

4 I have heard that the Bishop of L has con- 

ferred a living on you ; I congratulate you. 

5 He loathes to do it. 

6 You have been very long coming ; I had almost 

given you up. 

7 English ladies dress with more taste now, than 

they did twenty years ago. 

8 For all that, he still enjoys a moderate income. 

9 They have given all their lodgers notice to quit, 

because of their keeping late hours. 

1 Do not you see that they disguise their design ? 

11 He will soon be at his wit's end. 

12 Begin, you are to play. 

13 Call for a wafer. 

14 There is no remedy for it. 



1 Devenir rare . . . 

2 Trouver a redire a tout. 

3 Gagner sa vie a tricoter. 

4 Conferer uii benefice . . . 

5 Avoir de la repugnance a 

faire nne chose. 

6 Tarder a venir. — Ne plus 

attendre quelqu'un. 

7 Se mettre . . . 

8 N'en jouir pas moins d'une 

fortune honnete. 



9 Donner conge — locataire — 
Se retirer a une heure 
indue. 

10 Couvrir son jeu. 

11 II sera bientot au bout de 

son latin. 

12 — c'est a vous a jouer. 

13 Demander un pain a ca- 

cbeter. 

14 II n'y a point d' autre res- 

source. 



96 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise XCVI. 

1 You don't look well to-day. 

2 Nothing is the matter with me. 

3 They look very strange upon one another ; don't 

you think so ? 

4 He promised to do it on my occount. 

5 The king is to be there : that's another reason why 

we should go. 

6 I shall bring them to their senses, and keep them 

to their duty. 

7 Tou want relaxation. 

8 The least thing takes off his attention. 

9 He has given his enemies an advantage. 

10 You will never have a fairer opportunity. 

1 1 Her father gave her five thousand pounds for her 

portion. 

12 He physics himself too much, 

13 You will have to pay duty at the Custom-house 

for this. 

14 Everything is taxed. 



1 N' avoir pas bon visage. 

2 Je n'ai rien. 

3 Se faire une drole de mine. 

4 — par rapport a moi. 

5 — raison de plus pour. 

6 Mettre a la raison. — Faire 

marcher droit. 

7 II vous faut de la dissipation. 

8 — le distrait. 



9 Donner prise sur soi . . . 

10 Vous ne I'aurez jamais plus 

belle. 

11 Son pere I'a dotee de . . . 

12 Faire de son corps une bou- 

tique d'apothicaire. 

13 Payer les droits de la dou- 

ane. 

14 II y a des droits sur tout. 



O:^ FREIS'GH PHEASEOLOGY. 



97 



EXEBCISE XCVII. 

1 That happened in his father's time. 

2 They wanted to impose on me. 

3 Soldiers often lie upon the bare ground. 

4 Show us a sample of your skill. 
6 He unguardedly said that. 

6 I will pay the bill when it becomes due. 

7 The first instalment falls due at Midsummer. 

8 His uncle's property has devolved upon him. 

9 I defeated his scheme. 

10 He shot by like an arrow. 

11 It was then that he became outrageous. 

12 He took a circuitous road; that made him late, 

13 She is a saucy little girl. 

14 We must cheer up a little. 

15 They made merry at your expense. 

16 1 could not pass ; a cart obstructed the way. 

17 That street is always encumbered. 



1 — du vivant de . . . 

2 Voiiloir prendre qiielqu'un 

pour dupe. 

3 Coucher sur la dure. 

4 Montrer un ediantillon de 

son savoir-faire. 

5 II lui est ecliappe de . . . 

6 Payer un billet a I'echeance. 

7 Le premier terme echoit a 

la St. Jean. 

8 — lui est echu. 



9 Faire echouer un projet. 

10 Passer comme un eclair. 

11 — qu'il eclata. 

12 Prendre le chemin des eco- 

liers. 

13 — une petite efirontee. 

14 S'egayer. 

15 S'egayer aux depens de . . . 

16 Embarrasser le chemin. 

17 II y a toujours de I'emb ar- 

ras dans . . . 



98 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise XOVIII. 

1 He becomes stout. 

2 His blood is soon up. 

3 I do not oppose it. 

4 He strikes borne. 

5 He bas a very awkward look. 

6 He always comes up to me witb a smile. 

7 I am sorry to bear be associates witb low people. 

8 He surpasses bis brotber in avarice. 

9 It will be given to tbe bigbest bidder, 
1 I am in a sad dilemma. 

Ill wrote to bim in strong terms. 

L2 He bas put on bis best clotbes to go and see tbem. 

13 He bas wbeedled bim witb fair speecbes. 

14 He is not one wbo will neglect bis affairs. 

15 I bave got a cold in my bead. 

16 1 am in tbe same predicament. 

17 Does it follow tbat you are in tbe rigbt? 



1 Prendre de T embonpoint. 

2 Sa bile est aisee a emonvoir. 

3 ]^e pas mettre d'empecbe- 

ment a . . . 

4 Emporter la piece. 

5 Avoir I'air bien emprunte. 

6 Aborder qnelqu'nn en riant. 

7 S'encanailler. 

8 Encberir snr . . . 

9 Adjuger au plus offrant et 

dernier encberisseur. 
10 Etre entre I'enclume et le 
martean. 



11 Ecrire a qnelqu'un de la 

bonne encre. 

12 S'endimancber. 

13 Endormir quelqu'un de 

belles paroles. 

14 — un bomme qui ne s'en- 

dort pas. 

15 Etre enrbume du cerveau. 

16 Etre loge a la meme en- 

seigne. 

17 S'ensuivre . . . 



ON PRENCH PHRASEOLOGY. 



99 



Exercise XOIX. 



1 Do as you think fit. 

2 I do not intend tliat lie should be sent away. 

3 That's understood, of course. 

4 He does not understand that at all. 

5 He will outlive us all. 

6 She has a motherly affection for that child. 

7 They find their own clothes. 

8 His affairs don't prosper. 

9 I have put him out of conceit with it. 

1 I will indulge myself with it. 

11 Has he saved money ? 

12 I have got over a great difiiculty, 

13 1 put myself quite out of breath by coming upstairs . 

14 1 fell down quite stunned with the blow I received. 

15 You have lost your money thereby. 

16 She told me it was the first thing she had sold 

that day. 



Faites comme vous Tenten- 

dez. 
Je n'entends pas qu'on le 

renvoye. 
Cela s'entend. 
II s'entend a cela comme a 

ramer des choux. 
Enterrer. 

— des entrailles de mere . . . 
S'entretenir d'habits. 



8 — vont a I'envers. 



9 Faire passer une envie a 
quelqu'un. 

10 — m'en passerai 1' envie. 

11 Faire des epargnes. 

12 Se tirer une epine du pied. 

13 S'essouffler a monter. 

14 Tomber tout etourdi d'un 

coup. 

15 En etre pour son argent. 

16 — son etrenne dece jourla. 



H 2 



100 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise C. 



1 An English merchant favoured his escape. 

2 I started from my sleep. 

3 Cork the bottle, else the wine will get flat- 

4 At last he became persuaded. 

5 He seems to be cut out for it. 

6 He waited resolutely. 

7 It is going from bad to worse. 

8 I did not hesitate. 

9 She is growing young again. 

10 He was uncomfortable ; the wind was cutting his 

face. 

1 1 Examine your pocket. 

12 One rascal calls the other rogue. 

13 1 tell you so in plain terms. 

14 He gives himself all manner of genteel airs. 

1 5 He referred it to the spectators. 

1 6 One scabbed sheep will mar a whole flock. 



1 Faire evader quelqu'un. 

2 S'eveiller en sursaut. 

3 Boucher une bouteille — 

s'eventer. 

4 Se rendre a 1' evidence. 

5 II semble fait expres pour 

cela. 

6 Attendre de pied ferme. 

7 Tomber de fievre en chaud 

mal. 

8 N'en pas faire a deux fois. 



9 Elle a ete a la fontaine de 
Jouvence.* 

10 Etre mal a son aise — Fou- 

etter dans le visage. 

11 Fouiller dans . . . 

12 La pele se moque du four- 

gon. 

13 — en bon Franc^ais. 

14 Faire le fringant. 

15 S'en rapporter a la galerie. 

16 II ne faut qu'une brebis ga- 

leuse pour gater . . . 



* The water of which was believed to possess a regenerating power. 



ON FEEXCH PHKASEOLOGY. 101 



Exercise CI, 

1 Take it away; it is of no consequence. 

2 U]oon the whole, I am not sorry that the affair is 

off. 

3 He has used every means to attain his end. 

4 He was a father to me. 

5 I plainly perceived what they aimed at. 

6 We have known her a great while. 

7 It is not our fault if the affair goes on so heavily. 

8 This young gentleman behaves very well ; I am 

quite satisfied with him. 

9 It is what we care very little about. 

10 I dined out the day before yesterday. 

11 My horse is lame ; I must get rid of him. 

12 1 dismissed him without explaining my reasons. 

13 Fear not, I know they are prejudiced in your 

favour. 



1 — il n'importe. 8 N'avoir qu'h se louer de 

2 Tout bien considere — ait quelqu'un. 

manque. 9 C'est sur quoi nous nousin- 

3 Mettre tout en usage ... I quietons fort peu. 

4 Tenir lieu de pere. I 10 Diner en ville. 

5 Voir venir quelqu'un de loin. | 11 — boiteux — m'en defasse. 

6 — de longue main. 12 — sans forme de proces. 

7 — tire en longueur. i 13 — prevenu ... 



102 practical exercises 

Exercise CII. 

1 I heard that you were to have come to see me ; I 

anticipated you. 

2 I often take a nap after dinner. 

3 We draw near to Michaelmas. 

4 He is not near so learned as his brother. 

5 She deprives herself of everything. 

6 Let us make a virtue of necessity. 

7 I saw you a little nettled at his leaving you in the 

lurch. 

8 He is a downright honest man. 

9 At last, he has met with his match. 

10 I have killed two birds with one stone. 

11 I must dismiss my groom; he is a great 

tippler. 

12 Do not let him contract an ill habit. 

13 Do like me ; lay up for a rainy day. 

14 I bought those books at an exorbitant price. 



1 Prevenir quelqu'un. 

2 Faire uii somme. 

3 Toucher a. 

4 N'etrepas abeaucouppres . . 

5 Se priver de tout. 

6 Faire de necessite vertu. 

7 Etre pique d'etre plante la. 

8 Etre une bonne pate 

d'homme. 



9 Trouver ckaussure a son 
pied. 

10 Faire d'une pierre deux 

coups. 

11 Etre un piKer de cabaret. 

12 Prendre un mauvais pH. 

13 Garder une poire pour la 

soif. 

14 — au poids de Tor. 



01^ FUENCH PHRASEOLOGY. 



103 



EXEECISE cm. 



1 He has no courage ; or, he is faint-hearted. 

2 I can only lay the blame upon myself. 

3 It is evident that the Duke of Enghien was con- 

demned beforehand. 

4 You did not rise early this morning. No, I slept 

till very late. 

5 Unless you become more economical, you will 

never be rich. 

6 He is indefatigable in serving his friends. 

7 Have you recovered the money you had lost ? 

8 There is no going back. 

9 I will make him alter his course. 

10 He is not such a fool as to go thither. 

1 1 Abstain from laughing by all means. 

12 Heaven forbid ! 

1 3 If you are not better to-morrow, I will send for a 

nurse. 

14 He is very well off for money. 

15 All his teeth are decaying. 

16 What a pity that child has bad teeth. 



1 Etre une poule mouillee. 

2 Ne pouYoir s'en prendre 

qu'a soi-meme. 

3 — que le proces du due 

d'EngHen etait tout fait. 

4 Dormir la grasse matinee. 

5 Devenir menage. 

6 Se mettre en quatre pour . . . 

7 So racquitter. 

8 N'y avoir pas moyen de re- 

culer. 



9 Faire changer quelqu'un de 
gamme. 

10 II n' a garde d'y aller. 

11 Se bien garder de rire. 

12 Dieu m'en, t'en, Ten, nous 

en, vous en, les en, garde. 

13 Garde-malade. 

14 Avoir la bourse bien 

garnie. 

15 Toutes ses dents se gatent 

16 Avoir les dents gatees. 



104 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise CIY. 

1 They live now in high, style. 

2 It is not in his line. 

3 The subject is not exhausted. 

4 He glories in it. 

5 Nothing can be said against her conduct. 

6 He removed the difficulty by a bold measure. 

7 He laughed with all his might. 

8 He is nimble-fingered. 

9 Will you be the better for it ? 

10 He is much pitted with the small-pox. 

1 1 He lives upon them. 

12 I have undertaken a work that requires much 

time. 

13 It is only to keep him in exercise. 

14 I am in the right cue to-day. 

15 I ran myself out of breath to overtake him. 

1 6 My father also is an old soldier. 

17 It will be a mere chance if he get over it. 



1 Vivre dans le grand genre. 

2 Ce n'est pas dans son genre. 

3 II y a encore de quci glaner. 

4 II s'en fait gloire. 

5 II n'y a point a glosser sur . . 

6 Trancher le noeud Gordien. 

7 — a gorge deployee. 

8 N' avoir pas les mains 

gourdes. 

9 En serez-vous plus gras ? 



10 Avoir le visage bien grele. 

11 Gruger quelqu'un. 

12 — de longue haleine. 

13 Tenir quelqu'un en haleine. 

14 Etre en haleine. 

15 Courir a perte d'haleine. 

16 — a blanchi sous le har- 

nais. 

17 Ce sera un grand hasard 

s'il en rechappe. 



ON FREIS^CH PHRASEOLOGY. 



105 



EXEECISE CV. 

1 Enougli, sir ; don't stand arguing with me. 

2 He will not bate an inch of it. 

3 He sets a great value upon himself now. 

4 I give it up. 

5 I must try him first. 

6 I have more than once tried his friendship. 

7 I am in earnest. 

8 Your brother is not come back, is he ? 

9 I set about it very awkwardly. 
10 He will not run into the snare. 
Ill cannot keep pace with you. 

12 When he came in he was panting for breath. 

13 Who acted the principal part in that play? 

14 I am very particular in the choice of my friends. 



1 Ne pas faire le raisonneur. 

2 Wen rien relacher. 

3 Faire le rencheri. 

4 Se rendre. 

5 Mettre quelqu'im a I'e- 

preuye. 

6 Mettre Tamitie de quel- 

qu'un a I'epreuve. 

7 Ne pas se moqiier. 



8 Est-ce que yotre frere est 

de retoiir ? 

9 S'y prendre gaiicliement. 

10 Ne pas donner dans le 

panneau. 

11 Tenir pied a quelqu'im. 

12 Haleter. 

13 Eemplir le principal role. 

14 Etre difficile dans . . . 



106 



PEACTICAL EXEECISES 



Exercise 0VI« 

1 The party is broken up. 

2 It is the same thing. 

3 He fell down dead in the street. 

4 He shams lameness. 

5 I am going immediately. 

6 You grieve me exceedingly. 

7 They have three rooms on the same floor. 

8 He prides himself on his nobility. 

9 He speculates for a rise in the French stocks ; but 

they are falling. 

10 She has one shoulder higher than the other. 

1 1 He complained loudly, but nobody listened to him. 

12 There are ups and downs in life. 

13 1 sat at the head of the table. 

14 You talk big, sir. 

15 He fell full length upon the floor. 

16 1 shall make him alter his tone. 



1 La partie est manquee. 

2 Cela revient au meme. 

3 Tomber raide mort. 

4 Feindre d'etre boiteux. 

5 J'y vais de ce pas. 

6 Navrer quelqu'iin de dou- 

leur. 

7 — de plein pied. 

8 Se piquer de noblesse. 

9 Jouer a la hausse— Baisser. 



10 Avoir ime epaule qui 

hausse. 

1 1 Jeter les hauts cris, 

12 II y a du haut et du bas 

dans la vie. 

13 — au baut de la table. 

1 4 Le prendre bien haute. 

15 Tomber de sa hauteur. 

16 — bien de chanter. 



ON FBEIS-CH PHUASEOLOGY. 



107 



Exercise CVII. 

1 I had to put tlie clock back ; now I must set it 

forward. 

2 He has appointed to meet me to-morrow. 

3 It is too early to dine. 

4 There is the rub. 

5 One precedent is no law. 

6 How ceremonious you are ! Sit down and take 

your dinner with us. 

7 Hq made me an apology. 

8 Respect must be paid to every one according to 

his rank. 

9 Evil be to him that evil thinks. 
10 He is in the highway to ruin. 
Ill abominate that. 

12 She has a frightful head-dress. 

13 1 have heard shocking things of them. 

14 It is extravagantly dear. 

15 Do not walk off the pavement. 

16 He comes out clear ; I am glad of it. 

17 Where shall I set you down? 



1 Retarde I'Leure — I'avancer. 

2 Dormer lieure a quelqu'un. 

3 — de trop bonne heure pour 

diner. 

4 Yoila le liic. 

6 Una hirondelle ne fait pas 
le printemps. 

6 Yoila bien des histoires ! 

7 Faire a quelqu'un reparation 

d'honneur, otc des ex- 
cuses. 

8 A tout seigneur, tout bonneur. 



9 Honi soit qui mal y pense. 

10 Prendre le cbemin de I'bo- 

pital. 

11 Avoir quelque cbose en 

borreur. 

12 Eire coiffee a faire borreur. 

13 Entendre dire des borreurs 

de quelqu'un. 

14 — bors de prix. 

15 — bors du trottoir. 

16 Etre bors d' affaire. 

17 Descendre quelqu'un. 



108 



PEACTICAL EXEECISES 



Exercise CVIII. 

1 As soon as lie appeared, the people hooted him 

unmercifully. 

2 Don't say anything, you irritate them still more. 

3 There is a mortgage upon that land. 

4 He is scrupulously exact. 

5 I will pay you at or before Michaelmas. 

6 They charge him with that crime, but I don't think 

him guilty of it. • 

7 Several died for want of food. 

8 They want discretion. 

9 He is expected every moment. 

10 Let us not meddle in our neighbour's affairs. 

11 He took upon himself to advise me. 

12 He behaved in an ungrateful manner to me. 

13 1 went and relieved him from uneasiness. 

14 I maintain that it is not true. 

1 5 Has he entered one of the inns of court ? 



1 Faire de grandes huees. 

2 Jeter de Thuile sur le feu. 

3 II y a hypotheque . . . 

4 Mettre les points sur les i. 

5 ~ d'ici a . . . 

6 Imputer un crime a quel- 

qu'un. 

7 Mourir d' inanition. 

8 Ce sont des indiscrete. 

9 On r attend incessamment. 



10 Ne pas s'ingerer dans les 

affaires d'autrui. 

11 S'ingerer de donner des 

avis. 

12 Payer quelqu'un d' ingrati- 

tude. 

13 Tirer quelqu'un d' inquie- 

tude. 

14 Je m'inscris en faux contre 

cela. 

15 Prendre des inscriptions en 

droit. 



ON FRENCH PHEASEOLOGY. 



109 



Exercise CIX. 

1 Eecollect we go halves. 

2 I don't know whom I am to lay it to. 

3 I hear a knock ; I will get off. 

4 There is a door that opens into the street. 

5 Such outrage upon the laws raised an universal 

outcry against the minister. 

6 There is a stain, but it does not show. 

7 The house overlooks all the country. 

8 I cannot play with you ; you play too well for me. 

9 We keep a good pace. 

1 His looks speak in his favour ; but I do not like 

his temper. 

1 1 We have dipt his wings. 

12 Poor woman! she pines away with grief. 

13 My strength is exhausted. 

14 Come, you must make allowances for a foreigner. 

15 Gather thistles, expect prickles. 



1 Etre de moitie. 


9 Aller bon train. 


2 Ne savoir a qui s'en pren- 


10 Avoir une physionomie 


dre. 


revenante — mais, son hu- 


3 Se saiiver. 


meur ne me revient pas. 


4 Donner sur . . . 


11 Eogner les ongles a quel- 


5 Un tel attentat contra — 


qu'un. 


excita nne clameur . . . 


12 Secher sur pied. 


6 — il n'y parait pas. 


13 N' en pou voir plus. 


7 — doniine sur . , . 


14 Passer quelque chose a un 


8 Etre trop fort pour quel- 


etranger. 


qu'un. 


15 Qui s'y frotte s'y pique. 



110 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise CX. 

1 Just come and speak to me. 

2 I will not speak to him ; lie is a low fellow. 

3 He does not pretend to be so clever as you. 

4 Then they began to pelt him with stones. 

5 She is all perfection. 

6 He has rather an agreeable person. 

7 We take it upon ourselves to make him sign the 

deed. 

8 He wanted me to pay compound interest. 

9 It is perfect ; not a jot is wanting to it. 

1 We travelled by small stages. 

1 1 They played till very late in the night. 

12 Let the world go as it will. 

13 There is pick and choose. 

14 I remember some scraps of his speech. 

15 He begins to frequent fashionable company. 



1 Venez tm pen que je vous 

parle. 

2 — un pied plat. 

3 Ne pas se piquer de . . . 

4 Jeter des pierres a quel- 

qu'un. 

5 C'est la perfection meme. 

6 Etre assez bien fait de sa 

personiie. 

7 Se faire fort de faire signer 

qnelqu'un. 



8 Payer I'interet de I'interet. 

9 II n'y manque pas un iota. 

10 — a petites journees. 

11 — jusque bien avant dans 

la nuit. 

12 Laisser le monde comme il 

est. 

13 II y a a prendre et a laisser. 

14 J'ai retenu quelques lam- 

beaux de sa harangue, 

15 Se lancer dans le monde. 



OK FBENCH PHRASEOLOGY. 



Ill 



Exercise CXI. 

1 What are his terms per lesson ? 

2 I have the same engraving ; but mine is a proof 

— this is not. 

3 He translated that, word for word. 

4 He is as weak as water. 

5 He suffers himself to be governed. 

6 Grood entertainment for man and horse. 

7 He refused the proposal with scorn. 

8 Tou shall not go long unpunished. 

9 That is a proof of the march of intellect. 

10 It is the privilege of travellers to tell stories. 

1 1 Everything must be ready to his hand. 

12 He should be sent to Bedlam. 

13 She intends to set us together by the ears. 

1 4 I see you are not upon ill terms with them. 

15 That is clever enough. 



1 Combien prend-il . . . ? 

2 — avant la lettre. 

3 Eendre a la lettre . . . 

4 N' avoir non plus de force 

qu'un linge mouille. 

5 Se laisser raener a la lisiere. 

6 Bon logis a pied et a cheval. 

7 Eenvoyer de bien loin. 

8 Yous ne le porterez pas bien 

loin. 

9 — progres des lumieres. 



10 A beau mentir qui vient de 

loin. 

11 II faut tout lui macber. 

12 On devrait le mettre aux 

petites maisons. 

13 EUe vent nous mettre mal 

ensemble. 

14 ^'etre pas mal avec quel- 

qn'nn. 

15 — n'est pas maladroit. 



112 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise CXII. 

1 They were in a violent passion with, each other. 

2 Might overcomes right. 

3 Yon pnt me ont. 

4 His brother, the merchant, has failed. 

5 I was very near falling. 

6 Let him laugh that wins. 

7 You will get nothing by it. 

8 He is always haggling. 

9 I took the children last night to a puppet-show. 

10 I sleep very soundly. 

1 1 He no longer keeps a table. 

12 That made him jealous. 

13 It is dangerous walking in frosty weather. 

14 We must turn the tables. 

15 He is a merry mortal. 

16 He has falsified the proverb. 

17 He promised us mountains of gold. 



1 Se manger le Wane des yeux. 

2 Les gros poissons mangent 

les petits. 

3 Yous me faites manquer. 

4 — a manque. 

5 Manquer de tomber. 

6 Marchand qui perd ne pent 

rire. 

7 Yous n'en serez pas bon 

marcband. 

8 Marcbander sou a sou. 

9 — aux marionnettes. 

10 — comme une marmotte. 



11 Sa marmite est renversee 

cbez lui. 

12 Cela lui a mis martel en 

tete. 

13 II fait mauvais marcber 

dans un temps de glace. 

14 Yoir le revers de la me- 

daille. 

15 II n'engendre point de me- 

lancolie. 

16 II a fait mentir le proverbe. 

17 — monts et merveilles. 



ON FRENCH PHRASEOLOGY. 



113 



Exercise CXIII. 

1 "We see a great deal of company. 

2 We are much indebted to you. Don't mention it. 

3 Can it be the same man ? 

4 He was true to bis oath. 

5 What occasion is there for your going there ? 

6 I like it of all things. 

7 I have only run this book over. 

8 I doubt whether you could outrun him. 

9 His wife outshone all the other ladies. 

10 Wait till the shower is over. 

11 He is much altered, and has put an end to his 

extravagance. 

12 1 saw him laugh in his sleeve. 

13 He is a cunning old fox. 

14 You omitted at least three pages. 

15 1 can do very well without him, or it. 



1 — beauconp de monde. 

2 Devoir a quelqu'un. — Se 

moquer. 

3 Se peut-il que ce soit . . . 

4 Tenir son serment. 

5 Qu'est-il besoin que . . . 

6 C'est ce que j'aime plus que 

toute autre chose. 

7 Ne faire que parcourir . . . 



8 Devancer quelqu'un a la 

course, 

9 Eclipser, or, Effacer . . . 

10 Laisser passer I'ondee. 

11 Etre revenu de ses folies. 

12 Eire sous cape. 

13 C'est un vieux routier. 

14 Sauter des pages. 

15 Se passer de quelqu'un, or, 

de quelque chose. 



114 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise CXIV. 

1 Let them come, I will not stir. 

2 Why did he give it a kick ? 

• 3 A feeling of piety pervades the whole of the work. 

4 Ton like to raise phantoms in your imagination. 

5 When every one minds his own business, affairs 

go on well. 

6 Who persuaded you to that ? 

7 I hope he did not bring my name into question. 

8 He has been nonsuited. 

9 She has got a fine set of teeth. 

10 He is quite covered with bruises. 

1 1 That disease wastes him away. 

12 I know that he prejudiced your mind. 

1 3 Bray a fool in a mortar, he will never be the wiser. 

14 I am extremely melancholy. 

15 He strikes like a porter. 



1 Attendre quelqu'un de pied 

ferme. 

2 Donner des coups de pied . . . 

3 — est repandu dans . . . 

4 Se creer des fantomes. 

5 Quand chacun se mele de 

son metier, les yaclies sont 
Men gardees. 

6 Mettre une chose en tete a 

quelqu'un. 

7 Ne pas mettre quelqu'un en 

jeu. 



8 Etre mis hors de cour. 

9 Avoir la bouche bien meu- 

blee. 

10 Etre tout meurtri de coups. 

11 Cette maladie le mine. 

12 Mouter la tete a quelqu'un. 

13 A layer la tete d'un More, 

on y perd sa lessive. 

14 S'ennuyer a la mort. 

15 N'y pas aller de main 

morte. 



ON PEEKCH PHBASEOLOGY. 115 



EXEHCISE CXV. 



1 How badly tliis is written ; what a scrawl ! 

2 That is not done in a trice. 

3 The lamp is almost out. 

4 It is anger that moved him to act so. 

5 I stood sjDeechless with amazement. 

6 Hush I little pitchers have long ears. 

7 He that will not when he may, when he will he 

shall have nay. 

8 He is always lucky. 

9 That man never grants a rec^uest. 

10 I am fi-ee from guilt. 

11 If he come again, shut the door in his face. 

12 He likes to play the simpleton.^ 

13 He speaks boldly. 

14 Let us play at odd or even. 



1 Quels pieds de mouclie ! j 8 Etre ne coiffe. 

2 Cela ne se jette pas en moule. ■ 9 Etre fort snr la negative. 

3 — se menrt. 10 Avoir la conscience nette. 

4 C est la colere qui I'a niu a 11 Fermer la porte au nez de 

en user de la sorte. ; quelqu'un. 



5 Demeurer muet d'etonne- 

ment. 

6 — les mui^ailles ont des 

oreilles. I 14 Jouer a pair ou non, 

7 Qui refuse, muse. ! 



12 Contrefaire le niais. 

13 Xommer les choses par leur 
nom. 



* Applied to a ladv, we say elk /ait V Agnes. 



116 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise CXVI. 

1 You always give me an evasive answer. 

2 Take counsel witli your pillow. 

3 He came home with a black eye. 

4 The foolish man thinks you will do it for his sake. 

5 An artist is known by his performance. 

6 You served him an ill turn. 

7 Little strokes fell great oaks. 

8 He is in a wavering condition. 

9 The miser would skin a flint. 

1 I had notice of it. 

1 1 They are mere loose reports. 

12 He made them pay to the uttermost farthing. 

13 It is quite useless. 

14 I am exhausted. 

15 1 defeated the scheme. 

16 We spent many happy days at his country-house. 

17 Let me consider. 



1 Eepondre en ISTormand. 

2 La nuit porte conseil. 

3 — un ceil poclie. 

4 — pour ses beaux yeux. 

5 A Toeuvre on connait Tou- 

Yrier. 

6 Eendre de mauvais offices a 

quelqu'un. 

7 Petit a petit I'oiseau fait son 

nid. 

8 Etre comma I'oiseau sur la 

branche. 



9 — tondrait un oeuf. 

10 On m' en a averti. 

11 Ce sont des on dits. 

12 — rubis sur I'ongle. 

13 C'est de I'onguent miton- 

mitairie. 

14 Etre sur les dents. 

15 J'y ai misbon ordre. 

16 Des jours files d'or et de 

sole. 

17 Donnez-moi le temps de 

m'orienter. 



0]S" FRENCH PHIIASEOLOGY. 



117 



Exercise CXYII. 

1 He is a man of some resolution. 

2 This little girl is tlie very picture of her mother. 

3 They are gone out for amusement. 

4 He beti^ayed me under pretence of fLiendship. 

5 I am imposed upon. 

6 I cannot bear to hear him drawl Ids words as he 

always does. 

7 Are you fixed upon that ? 

8 EverytHng prospers with me more and more. 

9 He will suffer capital punishment for liis crime. 

10 1 must erase this word. 

1 1 Did he receive you cheerfully ? 

12 It is a firm resolution. 

13 It is a great restraint upon me. 

14 Sh.e revived at this news. 

15 Saving his rights. 

16 By your leave, I will sit here. 



1 Avoir de la tete. 

2 Etre la copie meme de . . . 

3 Aller s'amuser. 

4 Trahir sous un faux semblant 

d'amitie. 

5 J' en tiens. 

6 Trainer ses paroles. 

7 S'en tenir la. 

8 Tout me reussit de mieux en 

mieux. 



9 Subir la peine capitale. 

10 Effacer un mot. 

11 Faire bon visage a quel- 

qu'un. 

12 — parti pris. 

13 Cela me gene beaucoup. 

1-i Cette nouvelle lui rendit la 
vie. 

15 Sans prejudice de . . . 

16 Xe vous en deplaise, je . . , 



118 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise CXVIII. 

1 This is the very kind of house I wish to have. 

2 We were going full speed, 

3 As to his promises, they are not to be depended 

on. 

4 Expect the like. 

5 He spoke to me as if nothing had been the matter. 

6 Be silent, until you get out of the scrape. 

7 There is no depending upon him. 

8 The priest christens his own child first. 

9 Let us draw cuts. 

1 I fell out with him. 

11 They are both cast in the same mould. 

12 1 sent him about his business. 

13 There are no marks on it. 

14 I surveyed all the spectators, but did not see him. 



1 Yoila justement comment je 

voudrais une maison. 

2 — comme le vent. 

3 — autant en emporte le 

vent. 

4 S'attendre a la pareille. 

5 — comme si de rien n'eut 

ete. 

6 — retirer son epingle du jeu. 

7 Attendez-le sous I'orme. 



8 Est bien fon qui s'oublie. 

9 Tirer la coiirte paiUe. 

10 Rompre la paille, or, se 

mettre mal avec quel- 
qu'un. 

11 Les deux font la paire. 

12 Envoyer paitre quelqu'un. 

13 11 n'y parait pas. 

14 Parcourir des yeux une 

assemblee. 



ON FBENCH PHRASEOLOGY. 



119 



EXEBCISE CXIX. 

1 We talked of indifferent things. 

2 He has a very fine prospect. 

3 Let it be so for this time only. 

4 They are angry, but that will blow over. 

5 He has the name of a rogue. 

6 Whilst I am about it. 

7 He always takes the wall. 

8 I yielded to him. 

9 He is a bad paymaster. 

10 He is nothing but skin and bone. 

11 You are much afraid of being hurt. 

12 I will retaliate. 

13 He has an impediment in his speech. 

14 I am very uneasy about it. 

15 There wants another picture to match this. 

1 6 His lawsuit is at a stand. 



1 — de la pluie et du beau 


10 Avoir la peau coUee sur 


temps. 


les OS. 


2 Etre en fort belle passe. 


11 Avoir bien peur de sa 


3 Passe pour cette fois-ci. 


peau. 


4 — cela se passera. 


12 Infliger a quelqu'un la peine 


5 Passer pour un coquin. 


du talion. 


6 Tandis que j'ai la main a la 


13 Avoir de la peine a parler. 


pate. 


14 J' en suis fort en peine. 


7 Prendre le baut du pave. 


15 11 faut un pendant a . . . 


8 Baisser le pavilion devant 


16 Son proces est pendu au 


quelqu'un. 


croc. 


9 C'est une mauvaise paye. 





120 

i^4 O 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise CXX. 

1 I sometimes feel the inspiration of poetry. 

2 He fought bravely. 

3 I sat up all night. 

4 He was armed from head to foot, or, cap-a-pie. 

5 He is still sound in wind and limb. 

6 I have taken a resolution to pay no more visits. 

7 You always suppose the worst. 

8 He beat the poor child unmercifully. 

9 You must determine some way or other. 

10 That work is not adapted to every capacity. 

1 1 He wore a plain suit of clothes. 

12 He is quite tiresome to me. 

13 All his shots did execution. 

14 He behaved like a madman. 

15 You are quite master of that language. 

16 That is all he could find. 



1 Boire des eaux du Permesse. 

2 Payer de sa personne. 

3 Etre sur pied toute la nuit. 

4 — de pied en cap. 

5 Avoir bon pied bon oeil. 

6 Se mettre sur le pied de . . . 

7 Prendre les choses au pis. 

8 Battre quelqu'nn comme 

platre. 
«/9 II faut qu'nne porte soit 
OTiverte ou fermee. * 



10 — a la portee de tout le 

monde. 

11 — un babit tout uni. 

12 Je le porte sur les epaules. 

13 Tous ses coups ont porte. 

14 Se demener comme im pos- 

sede. 

15 Posseder bien une langue. 

16 II ne trouva que cela pour 

tout potage. 



♦ This phrase origfinates in the play of Le Grondeur ; the man scolds his 
servant for not leaving the door open ; the latter reminds him that he had 
scolded him the day before for not shutting it- . . . Did he wish it shut ? No. 
Did he wish it open? No. Why, says the man, you must choose; a door 
must he either shut or open. 



ON FRES-CH PHRASEOLOGY. 



121 



Exercise CXXI. 

1 We have it fi^om good authority. 

2 So tremendous was the shock, that their lances 

were shivered to pieces. 

3 She will cause herself to be pointed at. 

4 His stomach is out of order. 

5 The conversation turned upon your quarrel with 

him. 

6 Everybody lays the blame upon him. 

7 "We all hope you will make it up ere long. 

8 This does not decide the difficulty, 

9 It has become a proverb. 

10 It answered several pm-poses. 

1 1 What ! you put up with such an insult ! 

12 We all know it by experience. 

13 I am always on my guard with them. 

14 That glass of wine has set me quite to rights. 



1 Tenir quelque chose de bonne 

part. 

2 — Yolerent en eclats. 

3 Se faire montrer au doigt. 

4 AYoir Testomac derange. 

5 — Tint a tomber snr . . . 

6 Donner tort a qnelqn'un. 

7 Se reconcilier avec qnel- 

qn'un. 



8 Trancher una difficulte. 

9 Passer en proverbe. 

10 Servir a phisienrs usages. 

11 Sonffirir une telle Lnsnlte. 

12 S avoir ce qn'en vaut 

I'anne. 

13 Eti'e snr le qui vive avec 

quelqu'nn. 

14 — ni'a tout- a -fait remis. 



122 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise CXXII. 

1 My ears still ring witk tliat noise. 

2 You will tell it me on the road. 

3 That poor man raves. 

4 For some time past, he looks coolly on you. 

5 He is at his tricks again. 

6 I made him submit. 

7 He dazzles everybody. 

8 It made my blood curdle. 

9 He is very much afraid. 

10 He said that to his face. 

1 1 They all shouted for joy. 

12 You cannot do better than go by him. 

13 Look how he goes about it. 

14 His money must be nearly gone, 

15 1 am nearly concerned in it. 

16 True friendship is never so strict. 

17 There is no occasion to hurry. 



1 Ce bruit me retentit encore 

aux oreilles. 

2 — chemin fesant. 

3 Battre la campagne. 

4 Battre froid a quelqu'un. 

5 II va encore faire des siennes. 

6 Faire mettre les ponces a 

qnelqu'un. 

7 Jeter de la pondre aux yeux 

a tout le monde. 

8 Faire venir la chair de poule. 



9 Le pouls lui bat. 

10 — a brule pourpoint. 

11 Pousser des cris de joie. 

12 Prendre exemple sur une 

personne. 

13 — il s'y prend. 

14 Etre pres de ses pieces. 

15 Cela me toucbe de pres. 

16 L'amitie n'y regarde pas 

de si pres. 

17 Cela n'est pas presse. 



OIS^ FRENCH PHBASEOLOGY. 



123 



Exercise CXXIII. 

1 He is very unassuming ; is lie not ? 

2 He is not given to lend. 

3 It is so mucli saved out of the fire. 

4 They Tvere fighting when we arrived. 

5 She is fond of spreading calumnious tales concern- 

ing her neighbours. 

6 Her husband also speaks ill of everybody. 

7 The kingdom of France never devolves to females. 

8 People of the same profession support one another. 

9 I shall not be caught so again. 

10 I thought better of it since yesterday, 

1 1 The least thing discourages him. 

12 One must wait for a better opportunity. 

13 Does he object to lend it you? 

14 A cat may look at a king. 



1 Un homme sans pretention. 

2 La fourmi n'est pas pre- 

tense.* 

3 C'est antant de pris sur 

I'ennemi. 

4 Etre anx prises. 

5 Faire des qnanquans, or, can- 

cans, sur ses voisuis. 

6 Medire du tiers et du quart. 

7 — ne tombe point en que- 

nouiUes. 



8 Un barbier rase I'antre. 

9 Bien fin qui m'y rattra- 

pera. 

10 Je me suis ravise. 

11 II se rebute pour . . . 

12 II faut reciiler pour mieux 

sauter. 

13 Se refuser a . . . 

14 Un cbien regarde bien un 

eveque. 



A line from La Fontaine's fable of La Cigale et la Fourmi. 



124 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise CXXIV. 



1 I allow myself a little rest. 

2 He complains that you imposed upon liim by false 

statements. 

3 He djd so much, that he thrust himself into our 

notice. 

4 Who beats ? neither ; it is a drawn game. 

5 There is no guarding against calummy. 

6 That man is very hard-hearted. 

7 He never acknowledges himself in the wrong. 

8 The mother was against the match. 

9 I cannot bear that man. 

10 All my wishes are now for solitude, 

1 1 One good turn deserves another. 

12 Tuck up your frock, my child, before you cross over. 

13 The whole amounts to one hundred pounds ; I' am 

astonished at it. 

14 The book is out of print. 



1 Prendre un pen de relache. 

2 Surprendre la religion de 

quelqu'un. 

3 Se faire remarquer de quel- 

qu'un. 

4 — la partie et remise. 

5 Contre la medisance il n'est 

poiQt de rempart.* 

6 Cast un homme sans remis- 

sion. 



7 II ne se rend jamais. 

8 — repugnait a ce mariage. 

9 Get homme me repugne. 

10 Je ne respire plus que . . , 

11 A beau jeu, beau letour. 

12 Se retrousser. 

13 Le tout revient a . . . Je 

n'en reviens pas. 

14 L' edition du Uvre est epui- 

see. ^ 



* A line from Moli^re's Tartuffe. 



ON FEElSrCH PHRASEOLOGY. 



125 



Exercise CXXV. 

1 You are mucli like your father in that respect. 

2 Their plan is not well contrived. 

3 Have you not read the proclamation ? Why, it is 

posted up at the corner of every street. 

4 I rack my brains in vain to recollect it ; — I give it 

up. 

5 They are not all of the stamp. 

6 It was a great providence that she was not run over. 

7 To what purpose has he done that ? 

8 It is the fruit of my labour. 

9 They say that she has struck his fancy. 

10 He rambles about all day. 

1 1 They are finely set out. 

12 Give me this country for true liberty. 

13 Which way does the wind blow ? 

14 He is a mischievous fright. 



1 Vous tenez en cela de . . . 

2 — n'est pas bien fait. 

3 — elle est affichee a tons les 

coins de me. 

4 Se mettre 1' esprit a la tor- 

ture afin de . . . y re- 
noncer. 

5 — de la meme trempe. 

6 — Ce fut un coup de ciel que 

. . . ecrasee. 



7 Dans quelle vue . . . 

8 — le fruit de mes veiUes. 

9 Donner dans la vue de 

quelqu'un. 

10 Battre le pave. 

1 1 Les voila bien avances ! 

12 Vive ce pays-la pour . . . 

13 — vient le vent ? 

14 II est marque au B.* 



* Etre marquS au B, means to be afflicted "writh any of the bodily de- 
formities, the name whereof begins with a 6 in French ; such as borgne 
(one-eyed)^ bossu (hunch-back), boiteux (lame) ; and this proverb is said of 
mischievous people of such deformed figure. 



126 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise CXXVI. ' 

1 Will my presence ineominode you ? 

2 They have been for a long time at daggers drawn. 

3 I know not what to think of it. 

4 I do not know for what reason he made himself 

uneasy. 

5 Everybody contributed to it. 

6 I view things in their best light. 

7 She believes that the house is haunted. 

8 I call it into question. 

9 Forgive me this error, and I will forgive you the 

next. 

10 This is a scorching fire. 

1 1 That is no manner of use. 

12 He coloured up, but said nothing in answer. 

13 1 have bought, at second-hand, an arm-chair that 

goes upon castors. 

14 Everybody knows that piece of news. 



1 Suis-je de trop ? 

2 — a couteaux tires. 

3 — a quoi m'en tenir. 

4 Se mettre martel en tete. 

5 Y mettre du sien. 

6 Voir tout en couleur de rose. 

7 — qu'il revient des esprits 

dans . . . 

8 Eevoquer en donte. 

9 Passe moi le sene, je te pas- 

serai la rliubarbe. 



10 — un feu a rotir un 

boeuf. 

11 Cela sert comme une cin- 

quieme roue a un car- 
rosse. 

12 Le rouge lui monta au 

visage . . . 

13 — fauteuil a roulettes. 

14 Cette nouvelle court lee 

rues. 



ON FRENCH PHBASEOLOGY. 



127 



Exercise CXXVll. 

Those ladies are rather awkward. 

The inhabitants of that country are fair and hand- 
some. 

It will vex him strongly. 

One does not know what to make of him. 

You will find the account right, errors excepted. 

He has run the risk of it. 

I wonder you do not understand it ; it is plain 
enough. 

8 I have put an end to that business. 

9 He took them to task in the most outrageous 

manner. 

10 From the highest to the lowest. 

11 How could he be unconcerned at such a sight? 

12 They stripped him of his money. 

1 3 Did you ever see the like ? 

14 Go near without seeming to take any notice of 

anything. 

15 That would be throwing pearls before swine. 



1 — n'ont pas sacrifie aux 

Graces. 

2 Le sang est beau dans ce 

pays-la. 

3 Cela lui fera faire du mau- 

vais sang. 

4 — a quelle sauce le mettre. 

5 — sauf erreurs de calcul. 

6 Faire le saut. 

7 — cela saute aux yeux. 

8 — le sceau a une affaire. 



9 Faire une scene terrible a 
quelqu'un. 

10 Depuis le sceptre jusqu'a 

la boulette. 

11 Voir, or, regarder, d'un ceil 

sec . . . 

12 Mettre quelqu'un a sec. 

13 — rien de semblable ? 

14 — sans faire semblant de 

rien. 

15 Semer des marguerites de- 

vant les pourceaux. 



128 



PEACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise CXXYHI. 

1 This loss is very grievous to him. 

2 A foolish judge decides hastily. 

3 He has a churchyard cough. 

4 What is he doing ? He has turned soldier. 

5 I took the eldest into my service ; the youngest is 

also in a situation. 

6 I can walk no more. 

7 Q-iulio Eegondi is a great player on the guitar. 

8 He is very attentive to the ladies. 

9 I am dying with sleep. 

10 He is, in plain English, a stupid fellow. 

11 This is my least concern. 

12 1 am out of conceit with it. 

13 He is very weak. 

14 Who put you upon that scent? 

15 The poor fellow is wet to the skin. 

16 He is as pliant as a willow. 



1 — ltd est tres sensible. 

2 De fou juge brieve sentence. 

3 — une toux qui sent le 

sapin. 

4 Se mettre dans le service. 

5 — a mon service ... en 

service. 

6 Mes jambes refusent le ser- 

vice. 

7 Etre tres fort sur . . . 

8 Etre anx petits soins au- 

pres ... 



9 Je n'en puis plus de som- 
meil. 

10 C'est un sot en trois lettres. 

11 C'est le moindre de mes 

soucis. 

12 Je ne m'en soucie plus. 

13 N' avoir qu'un souffle de 

vie. 

14 Qui vous a souffle cela? 

15 — trempe comme une soupe, 

or, jusqu'aux os. 

16 — souple comme un gant. 



ON FRENCH PHRASEOLOGY. 



129 



Exercise CXXIX. 

1 I will have this note conveyed to him now ; write 

in the corner, ^^ Private.'' 

2 Why do you pout at him so ? 

3 I contended with him for the prize, and gained it. 

4 It is true ; he is a turn-coat. 
o God's providence is over us. 

6 He looked at him full in the face. 

7 That is nothing to our purpose. 

8 We must not think of to-morrow. 

9 So much for having gambled. 

10 I eat heartily to-day. 

11 You are on the alert this morning. 

12 He always looks sulky at me; nothing is to his 

mind. 

13 I took it in jest. 

14 Do you believe all the news he circulates ? 

15 How old would you take her to be ? 



1 Faire tenir. . . " Pour lui seul. ' ' 

2 Faire la mine a quelqu'un. 

3 Disputer le prix a quelqu'un. 

4 — il a toume casaque. 

5 — veille sur nous. 

6 — entre deux yeux. 

7 — ne fait rien a 1' affaire. 

8 Faire vie qui dure. 

9 Yoila ce que c'est que d' avoir 

joue. 



10 Manger comme quatre. 

11 Avoir la puce a I'oreille. 

12 Bonder quelqu'un. — Ne 

trouver rien a son gre. 

13 J'ai pris la chose en riant. 

14 Prenez-vous pour argent 

comptant . . . 
Id Quel age lui donneriez- 



130 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES 



' Exercise CXXX. 

1 His wife is always complaining that the times are 

hard. 

2 There may be a great deal said for and against 

your affair. 

3 Since we must leave, it is better to leave now. 

4 He said so much that, at last, he let the cat out 

of the bag. 

5 My guitar is out of tune. 

6 It is very easy for them to say so. 

7 Do you think I do not hear, that you strike so 

very hard. 

8 He sometimes refuses to hear. 

9 I remember to have read it. 

10 He is as brisk as a bee. 

1 1 He follows me wherever I go. 

12 He never stirs abroad. 

13 The master's eye makes everything thrive. 

14 The pitcher goes so often to the well, that it is 

broken at last. 



1 Precher misere. 

2 11 y a du pour et du centre 

dans . . . 

3 Partir pour partir . . . 

4 Decouvrir le pot aux roses. 

5 — n'est pas d' accord. 

6 En parler fort a son aise. 

7 Frapper comme un sourd. 

8 Faire la sourde oreille. 

9 II me souvient de . . . 



10 — eveille comme une potee 

de souris. 

11 II est toujours a mes talons. 

12 II est toujours dans sa ta- 

niere. 

13 Tant vaut rhomme, tant 

vaut sa terre. 

14 Tant va la cruche a I'eau 

qu'a la fin elle se brise. 



ON FRENCH PHRASEOLOGY. 



131 



Exercise CXXXI. 

1 He is inexliaustible on fhose subjects. 

2 He was as black a^ a tinker. 

3 People die as they live. 

4 You know I speak the truth. 

5 Every season has its reason. 

6 There is neither sun nor dust abroad. 

7 Which way do you steer your course ? 

8 I know the drift of your discourse. 

9 He is a man who never loses sight of his interest. 

10 I look upon him as an honest man. 

1 1 Ton may assure yourself that it will be so. 

12 1 encouraged him to persevere. 

13 He has no connexions. 

14 No ties of blood or friendship can hinder it. 

15 He stands upon a trifle. 

16 If he is well off, let him keep so. 



1 II ne tarit point . . . 

2 — noir comme iiiie taupe. 

3 Telle vie, teUe fin. 

4 — m'en etes temoin. 

5 D'autres temps, d'autres 

soins. 

6 II fait un temps de demoi- 

selle. 

7 Ou tendent vos pas ? 

8 — on tend . . . 



9 — qui tend a ses fins. 

10 Je le tiens honnete homme. 

11 Tenez-vous pour dit que . . . 

12 Exporter quelqu'un a tenir 

ban. 

13 Ne tenir a rien. 

14 II n'y a ni parente, ni ami- 

tie qui tienne. 

15 Se tenir a peu. 

16 S'il est bien, qu'il s'y tienne. 



132 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise CXXXII. 

1 I begin to know the people I have to deal with. 

I 

2 Depend upon it, what you said was taken up. 

3 E.ich as he is, he is afraid to be reduced to nothing. 

4 I nodded to you several times. 

5 What ! dare you cope with him ? 

6 He was beheaded for his crime. 

7 He is but the shadow of a king. 

8 Before he goes, give him his cue. 

9 That is another affair. 

10 What bird is that I see flying so swiftly yonder? 

1 1 Men ought not to be valued by their stature. 

12 That's a palpable case. 

13 Tell your little girl that her gown drags along the 

ground. 

14 He has been a long time in a lingering condition. 



1 Connaitre le terrain. 

2 — n'est pas tombe a terre. 

3 — que la terre ne lui manque, 

4 Faire plusieurs signes de tete, 

5 Tenir tete a quelqu'un. 

6 Payer nn crime de sa tete. 

7 C'est un roi de theatre. 

8 Faire a quelqu'un son theme. 



9 Cela change la these. 

10 Yoler a tire d'aile. 

11 On ne mesure pas les hom- 

mes a la toise. 

12 — tombe sous le sens. 

13 — que sa robe traine. 

14 II y a long-temps qu'il 

traine. 



ON FRENCH PHRASEOLOGY. 



133 



Exercise CXXXIII. 

1 The watch-guard goes twice round. 

2 I am not satisfied with such bad reasons as these. 

3 I rummaged every corner but in vain. 

4 Cannot you hear me without interrupting me ? 

5 They are sailing before the wind. 

6 He tired us very much. 

7 They scrambled for ices, but could not get any. 

8 I might make him pay dear for it. 

9 Let us split the difference. 

10 We are tired of hearing that song. 

11 It is in vain for me to look, I can see nothing. 

12 I do not give it up. 

1 3 He began by clearing the house of all the servants. 

14 A cannon-shot carried off his arm. 



1 Chaine. — Faire deux tours. 

2 Ne se pas payer d'aussi . . . 

3 Fouiller partout. 

4 Couper la parole a quelqu'un. 

5 Avoir vent arriere. 

6 Ennuyer quelqu'un a la mort. 

7 Se battre a qui aura . . . 

8 Faire un mauvais parti a 

quelqu'un. 



9 Partager le different par la 
moitie. 

10 Avoir les oreilles rebattues 

de. . . 

1 1 Avoir beau cbercber . . . 

12 JN'e pas se tenir pour battu. 

13 Faire maison nette. 

14 — lui emporta le bras. 



134 



PEACTICAL EXEKCISES 



Exercise CXXXIV. 

1 Don't be impatient ; I shall be back again pre- 

sently. 

2 I have given up shooting. 

3 Do you ever bunt ? 

4 I forced bim to explain bimself. 

5 How mucb would you give for a borse ? 

6 I bave more opportunities to get some tban you. 

7 Tbe plot is discovered. 

8 He is very mucb pitted witb tbe small-pox. 

9 Sbe gave a loud sbriek, and fainted. 

10 I do not like romping. 

11 He is low in casb. 

12 He is very well off for money. 

13 1 paid bim fifty pounds, bard casb. 



1 Ne faire qu'aller et venir. 

2 Eenoncer a la chasse. 

3 Aller a la chasse du cerf, or, 

du renard. 

4 Mettre au pied du mur. 

5 — mettriez-vous a . . . 

6 Etre plus a meme de . . . 

7 La meclie est eventee. 



8 Etre marque de la petite 

verole. 

9 Pousser un grand cri. 

10 Badiner grossierement. 

11 L' argent est court chez lui. 

12 Ne pas manquer d' argent. 

13 — bien compte. 



0:N' FRENCH PHKASEOLO(>Y. 135 



Exercise CXXXV. 

1 He kept an ordinary, at so much a-liead. 

2 That physician is his own doctor. 

3 They dressed him in a woman's clothes. 

4 I suppose he has been a strolling player. 

5 That excuse won't do. 

6 That man is cowardly, and void of feeling. 

7 He coaxes you,, to get you into his clutches, 

8 He has an excellent way of getting his commo- 

dities off his hands. 

9 Sorrow treads upon the heels of mirth. 

10 We must see what he aims at. 

1 1 The poor child was stark naked. 

12 He did not perceive he was giving the rod for his 

own back. 

13 He is dangerously ill. 

14 1 shall go with them, should I live long enough. 



1 Trailer a tant par tete. 

2 Se trailer soi-meme. 

3 On le travestit en femme. 

4 — qu'il a monte sur les tre- 

teaux. 

5 — n'est pas valable. 

6 N' avoir point de sang dans 

les veines. 

7 Faire patte de velours. 



8 Yendre bien ses coquilles. 

9 Tel qui rit Yendredi, Di- 

manche pleurera.* 

10 II faut le voir venir. 

11 — nu comme un ver. 

12 Donner des verges pour se 

fouetter. 

1 3 Etre entre la vie et la mort. 

14 — si Dieu me prete vie. 



* A line from Racine's comedy of Les Plaideurs. 



136 



PBACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise OXXXVI. 



1 I never saw the like in all my life. 

2 Every one mnst be treated according to his con- 

dition. 

3 He knows very little how the world goes. 

4 The last laugh is the best. 

5 111 teach him manners. 

6 It can easily be perceived that he is smitten. 

7 That does not take up much room. 

8 We agreed that I should go out to inquire how 

matters stood. 

9 What do I care for all his compliments ? 

10 I warrant you that he is his mother all over. 

1 1 Eaith, I have other things to mind. 

12 That is not what I had reckoned upon. 

13 He is going down in the world. 



1 De ma vie je n'ai vu pareille 

chose. 

2 A gens de village, trompette 

de bois. 

3 II est bien de son village. 

4 Eira bien qui rira le dernier. 

5 Apprendre a vivre a quel- 

qu'un. 

6 — qu'il en a dans I'aile. 



7 — ne tient pas un gros vo- 

lume. 

8 Prendre Fair du bureau. 

9 J'ai bien affaire de . . . 

10 — c'est sa mere toute cra- 

cbee. 

11 J'ai bien d'autres chats a 

fouetter. 

12 Ce n'est pas la mon. compte. 

13 Jeter un mauvais coton. 



ON FRENCH PHRASEOLOGY. 



137 



Exercise CXXXVII. 

1 He is not such a simpleton as to bite at that. 

2 He could not impose upon us. 

3 What are you going to do this afternoon ? 

4 A flower would not be amiss here ; what think you 

of it? 

5 He has always brought himself off honourably. 

6 We have just laid a wager, and we appeal to your 

decision. 

7 He knows not how to make a good use of his 

property. 

8 Though very young, he has already travelled a 

great deal. 

9 Who is to bear all the expenses of the entertain- 

ment? 

10 He cannot bear to be lectured. 

1 1 This horse was made for your purpose. 

12 I gave each of them their own. 

13 I set off in the depth of winter. 



1 II n'est pas homme a donner 

la-dedans. 

2 — nous en donner a garder. 

3 Que devenez-Yous . . . 

4 — ne ferait pas mal ; . . . 

5 Faire honneur a ses affaires. 

6 Faire un pari. — En faire 

qnelqu'un juge. 



7 Se faire honneur de son 

bien. 

8 Faire ses caravanes. 

9 Faire les frais de . . . 

10 — qu'on lui fasse la morale. 

11 — sera tout votre fait. 

12 Donner a chacun son fait. 

13 — au fort de I'hiver. 



138 



PBACTICAL EXEECISES 



ExEECisE OXXXVIIL 



1 Those poor children break my heart. 

2 If they should outrun him, he is lost. 

3 He attacked him without provocation. 

4 Though he lives at his father's, he spends a great 

deal still. 

5 I have had ill luck. 

6 We were obliged to send for help to the magis- 

trates. 

7 It is time to come to a resolution. 

8 Come and help me to make peace between them. 

9 He has always some good thing to say. 

10 He died a natural death. 

1 1 He began upon the old string. 

12 He did right to think better of it. 

13 She imitated her mistress uncommonly well. 

14 At last I made him sensible of his faults. 



1 — me fendent le coeur. 

2 Gagner quelqu'un de vitesse. 

3 — de gaiete de coeur. 

4 — il ne laisse pas de . . . 
6 Jouer de malheur. 

6 Envoyer demander main- 

forte. 

7 — fondre la cloche. 

8 — mettre le hola entre eux. 



9 — le petit mot pour rrre. 

10 — de sa belle mort. 

11 II debuta par le refrain ac- 

coutume. 

12 — de se raviser. 

13 Elle rendait sa maitresse a 

merveille. 

14 — rentrer en lui-meme. 



ox FEEK'CH PHEASEOLOGY. 



139 



Exercise OXXXIX. 



1 Do you believe I have any spare time ? 

2 He is a man of no family. 

3 Come, clieer up ; she is recovering her senses. 

4 They served as good a dinner as we could wish. 

5 He stole into my library. 

6 This young lady looks very precise. 

7 Without great economy, it would be impossible to 

stand it. 

8 He always engrosses the talk of the company. 

9 Is there no way of extricating one's self? 

10 He would see him go to prison, rather than give 

him a glass of water. 

11 He shut the door, double-locked it, and put the 

key in his pocket. 

12 I hope he will never know I had a hand in the 

business. 

13 He was not worth a penny. 



1 — du temps de reste. 

2 — Tin homme de rien. 

3 — la voila qui reyient a elLe. 

4 — un diner a sonhait. 

5 S'introduire a la sourdine 

dans . . . 

6 — fait la sueree. 

7 — on n'y tiendrait pas. 

8 Tenir le de dans la conver- 

sation. 



9 — de s'en tii-er. 

10 11 lui verrait tii-er la langue 

d'un pied de long qu'il ne 
lui . . . 

11 Fermer une porte a douL>le 

tour. 

12 — que j'ai trempe la-de- 

dans. 

13 ^N"' avoir pas un sou vaiL- 

lant. 



140 



PRACTICAL EXERCISES 



Exercise CXL. 

1 He did not know what he was saying ; he was 

half- seas over. 

2 Now, we are come to the point. 

3 Now, we are equal. 

4 I do not answer for it. 

5 He keeps him in hopes. 

6 She kills her child with kindness. 

7 He does not spare his trouble. 

8 He has feathered his nest. 

9 What a simpleton he is ! 

10 He is a thorough sportsman. 

1 1 You begin at the wrong end. 

12 He sells at a cheap rate, but he clears himself by 

the quantity. 

13 He tries to keep fair with both sides. 

14 1 told him plainly of his faults. 

1 5 If you do it you will afford matter of laughter. 

16 1 had been commissioned to speak. 

17 All's well that ends well. 



1 — entre deux vins. 

2 Bon, nous y voila. 

3 — but a but. 

4 Je n'en suis pas garant. 

5 Tenir quelqu'un en baleine. 

6 EUe mange son enfant de 

caresses. 

7 Y mettre du sien. 

8 II a bien fait ses orges. 

9 II est bien de son pays. 

10 II est au poil et a la plume. 
END or 



11 Brider son cbeval par la 

queue. 

12 — il se sauve sur la quan- 

tite. 

13 Vouloir menager la chevre 

et le cbou. 

14 Dire a quelqu'un ses verites. 

15 Appreter a rire. 

16 Charger quelqu'un de por- 

ter la parole. 

17 La fin couronne I'oeuvre. 

PART II. 



PART THE THIRD. 



A SELECTION 



IDIOMATIC VERBS; 



THEIR PRINCIPAL ACCEPTATIONS, AND THE PROVERBIAL 
AND FIGURATIVE PHRASES FORMED BY THEM : 



EXTRACTED FROM SOME OF THE BEST AND MOST MODERN 
LEXICOGRAPHERS. 



143 



IDIOMATIC VEEBS. 



EXPLAITATIOK OF THE ABBREYIATIOIN'S TTSEI) 11^ THE 
POLLOWING SELECTION, 



fig. figurative. 
liq. liquid. 
Pr. Proverb. 
va. verb active. 



va. and n, verb active and neuter. 
vn. and a, verb neuter and active. 
vi. verb impersonal. 
vr, verb reflected. 



AGIR, vn . To act, do^ dealioith; 
operate^ have an influence; 
negotiate^ transact, sue, pro- 
secute, proceed; behave. 

— d'autorite, to act as a 

master. 

— mal, to misbehave. 
Fagon d' — , practice. 
Manidre d'— , proceeding, 

II en a agi mal avec moi, he 

has used me ill. 
II s'agit, vi. De quoi s'agit-il ? 

vjhats the matter? 
II ne s'agit pas de cela., that is 

not the question, or, busi- 

ness in hand. 
II s'agit de votre honneur, 

^our honour is at stake, 

or, is concerned in it. 
II — de diner, we must think 

of dinner, 
II — de se decider, the husiiiess 

is to make up one^s mind. 

A JUSTER, va. To adjust, fit 
up, set or put in order; 
dress, adorn, embellish; re- 
concile, make friends; take 
one^s aim at. direct. 



Ajuster nne pendule, une 
machine, to put a clock, 
a machiiie in order. 

— une piece au theatre, to 

adapt a play [^o the 
stage. 

— quelqu'un de toutes pieces, 

to use one very ill. [Used 

sometimes in irony.] 
Comme le voila ajuste ! what 

a pickle he is in ! 
Yotre habit est bien — ! your 

coat is in a sad state ! 
Des cartes ajustees, marked 

cards (for cozening). 
Pr. Ajustez vos flutes, agree 

among yourselves. 

ALLER, vn. To go, repair ; 
march, dhc; act; come; lead 
to; end in; expose one^s self; 
gather; ask; hunt; be near; 
come on; succeed; go on; be 
carried; v)alk ; be bound 
for; cost; make; covet; 
fit; reach; amount to; run 
out ; come down. 

AUer a Edinbourg, to go to 
Edinburgh. 



144 



IDIOMATIC VERBS. 



Aller h pied, to go on foot^ to 
walk. 

— a grands pas, to go or walk 

very fast. 

— vite, to go fast, run. 

— fort vite, to gallop, whip up. 

— lentement, to go slow, pace. 

— au pas, to pace. 

— pr^cipitamment, to scuttle. 

— apr^s, to follow. 

— trop loin, or au-delk, to ex- 

ceed, go beyond. 

— k cheval, to go on horse- 

hack, to ride. 

— en poste, to ride post 

— le trot, to trot. 

— le galop, to gallop. 

— r amble, to amhle, pace. 

— son pas, to walk one's pace. 

— a tUtons, to grope along. 

— trop avant, to overshoot 

one's self. 

— au devant de quelqu'un, to 

go and meet one. 

— au devant d'une chose, to 

obviate a thing, prevent 
it. 

— au contraire, or h Tencontre 

d'une chose, to run coun- 
ter, to oppose a thing. 

— en troupe, to flock together. 

— ga et la, to jaunt, ramble, 

range. 

— h I'exces, to run into excess. 

— en paix, to depart in peace. 

— se battre, or s' — battre, to 

be going to fight. 

— et venir, to pass and repass. 
Je ne ferai qu' — et venir, / 

shall be back again pre- 
sently. 

— chercher, or querir, to go 

and fetch. 

— au fait, to come to the point. 

— ensemble, to be fellows. 



Aller de pair, to be equal in 
rank, 

— k I'eglise [speaking of a 

way], to lead to the church. 

— en pointe, to end in a point. 

— aux coups, or au feu, to ex- 

pose one's self in a battle. 

— aux opinions, aux avis, to 

put to the vote. 

— aux nouvelles, to hunt after 

news. 

— se coucher, to he going to bed. 

— bien, to succeed loelL. 

— lentement, [speaking of a 

building,] to qo on slowly. 

— si loin, to be carried so far, 

— a la Nouvelle-York, to be 

bound for New York. 

— loin, [speaking of an affair,] 

to cost much. 

— bien loin, to make one's 

fortune, 

— bien, [speaking of a coat, 

&c.,] to fit well. 

— jusque la, to reach so far, 

— ^ tant, to amount to so much, 

— par la douceur, to use fair 

means. 

— aux ecoutes, to inquire se- 

cretly about an affair, 

— pied a pied, or, bon pied 

dans une affaire, to act 
prudently in an affair, 

— son train, to go on without 

minding people's talk. 

— son grand chemin, or, ron- 

dement, to go roundly to 
work. 

— de mal en pis, to grow worse 

and worse. 

Faire — , to set a-going. 

Se laisser — a, to yield, sub- 
mit, give way to, 

Le chemin va en pente, or en 
descendant, en montant, 



IDIOMATIC VERBS. 



145 



en tournant, en zigzag, 

the road slopes^ ascends^ 

turns, goes zigzag-like. 
AUons, mes enfans ! cheer ujp^ 

my lads, 
Allons-nous bien % are we in 

the right way ? 
Comment vous en va? hoio do 

you do ? 
Comment va la sante 1 how 

are you in health ? 
Sa sante va de mieux en 

mieux, his health is better 

Ofiid better. 
Comment va le bras ? hovj is 

your arm ? 
Les affaires ne vont plus, 

business is quite dull. 
Votre habit vous va mal, your 

coat does not fit you. 
Comme vous y allez ! you go 

on at a rare roAe. 
Allez, je veux m' employer 

pour vous, take heart, I'll 

make interest for you. 
Yous le croyez fort a plaindre; 

allez, 11 ne Test point, you 

think he is greatly to be 

pitied ; pugh 1 no such 

thing. 
Songez qu'il y va de votre 

honneur, consider that 

your honour is at stake. 
Cela va tout seul, there is no 

difficulty in the thing. 
Cela va sans dire, tfiat's un- 
derstood. 
Ca ira, that will do ; ive shall 

succeed. 
Cela n'ira pas loin, that will 

not last long. 
Cela n'ira pas plus loin, 1 vnll 

not say a word about it. 

[Aller is sometimes used 

to impart more energy to 



a sentence; as] Yoyez 
ou j'en serais, s'il allait 
faire cela, see what dijji- 
cidty I should be in, ivere 
he to do it. 

N'allez pas vous imaginer, 
don'' t fancy or imagine. 

Pr. Cela va comme il plait a 
Dieu, that affair is quite 
neglected. 

Pr. Tous chemins vont a 
Eome, there are several 
means to one end. [Aller 
is sometimes used sub- 
stantively : as,] L' — ne 
me coute rien, my expenses 
thither are defrayed. 

Le pis — , the ivorst that can 
happen. 

C'est votre pis — , it is your 
last shift. 

Am pis — , let the worst come 
to the worst. 

On lui a donne Y — et le venir 
he has been slapt on both 
cheeks. 

S'EN — , vr. To go away, de- 
part ; elope ; be dying. 

Allez-vous-en, go about your 
business. 

II s'en va, he is dying. 

II s'en va le grand galop, he 
is in a galloping con- 
sumption, (he. 

Mon habit s'en va, my coat is 
weai'ing out. 

II s'en va onze heures, it is 
near eleven o'clock. 

Un secret pour faire en aller 
les taches, a secret to re- 
move spots. 

Pr. Tout s'en est alle en fumee, 
all is come to nothing. 

APPLIQUER, va. To apply, 



146 



IDIOMATIC YEEBS. 



"piit^ set, lay on; inlay; 

adapt; stick to, stick up; 

give ; bestow on ; put to. 
Appliquer des couleurs sur 
line toile, to lay colours 
on a cloth or canvas. 

— I'assiette, to lay the compo- 

sition. 

— des sangsues, to apply 

leeches. 

— des ventouses, to cup. 

— une affiche a une porte, ^t^ 

stick up a hill on a gate. 

— un soufflet, un coup de 

poing, to give a slap on the 
face, strike with the fist. 

— mal-a-propos, to misapply. 

— UD e somme d' argent a batir, 

to hestovj a sum of money 
on building. 
S' — , vr. To apply one's self 
(to study, &c.) ; apply to 
one''s self ; take for or to 
one's self ; be applied. 

— aux mathematiques,^05^if% 

mathematics sedulously. 

II s' applique tout ce qu'on 
dit, he takes for himself 
everything that is said. 

II s'est applique cette somme, 
he appropriated that mo- 
ney to his own use. 

APPUYEE, va. To prop, 
stay, support; [fig.] back, 
strengthen, second ; favour, 
protect. 

— une maison contre un co- 

teau, to build a house 
against a hill, 

— une muraille par des piliers, 

un 6diiice par des arcbou- 
tans,to support a wall with 
pillars, a building with 
arcboutans, or bntti^e-'^ses. 



Appuyer un pistolet sur la 
gorge de quelqu'uUjio clap 
a pistol to one's breast, 

Appuyer I'eperon a un cbeval, 
to spur a horse briskly, 

— ses coudes sur une table,^o 

lean upon a table. 
II m'a promis d' — mon placet, 
he has promised me to 
back my petition. 

— une motion, to second a 

motion. K-^-^m^'q, seconded, 

ARRACHER, va. To pull, 
draw; pluck out or up : [fig.] 
extort; snatch from, wrest, 
out, tear from ; pick out ; 
take away; take out of; get 
from; force from; [fig.] ob- 
tain by force or address. 

— un arbre, to root out a tree, 

— de mauvaises herbes, to 

pluck up weeds. 

— unfeuilletd'unlivre,^o^6a/* 

a leaf out of a book, 

— une opinion de la t§te de 

quelqu'un [fig.], to take an 
opinion out of one's head. 

— une loupe, to cut out a wen, 

— \x\iQdiQiii,to draw out a tooth, 

— un cor, to pick out a corn, 

— de I'argent a quelqu'un, to 

extort money from one. 

— quelqu'un a la mort, to 

snatch one from death, 

— un secret a quelqu'un, to 

get a secret from one. 

On ne saurait lui arracher une 
parole, one cannot get or 
draw one word from him, 

S' — , vr. To draw or pull out 
anything hurtful, dec, to 
one's self ; [fig.] break 
from,get away reluctantly, 

Je me suis arrache une 6pine 



idio:>j:atic tebbs. 



147 



du pied, I have drawn a 
thorn out of my foot, 

Elle s'arracha les chereux, she 
pulled off her hair. 

S'arracher d'un lieu, to go a way 
relucta/atly from a place, 
[They say of a person and 
of a book much sought 
after : On se Tarrache^ or 
on se Varrache des mains.] 

ARRETER, va. To stop, stay ; 
put into bodily confinement', 
fasten ; [fig.] cure^ assuage; 
arrest^ seize, apprehend^ at- 
tach, detain; hinder; [fig.] 
impede, check; hire^ engage; 
secif/re; resolve upon, deter- 
mine^ agree, declare, decree. 

— les gages d'un domestique, 

to stop the vxtges of a ser- 
va.nt. 

— un valet, une chambre gar- 

nie, une place a la dili- 
gence, to engage a valet, 
a furnished room, a seat 
in the stage-coach. 

— ses yeux, ses regards, sa 

pensee surquelque chose 
[fig.], to fix one's eyes^ 
thoughts, upon a thing. 

— un compte,^o balance, settle 

an account. 

— un marche, to striJce up a 

bargain. 

— un jour, to appoint a day. 

— des perdrix [said of a dog], 

to set partridges. 

On a arrete sa voiture, his car- 
Hage has been seizedupon.. 

— , vn. To stop, make a stay; 
come to a resolution, re- 
solve upon. 

Qu'a-t-on arrete ? what has 
been resolved on ? 



Arretez or finissez ! hush ! 
enough. 

S' — , vr. To stop, make a 
stay ; be at a stcrnd ; keep 
to CL thing; give one's mind 
to; dwell upon; forbear; 
loiter, tarry ; [said of a 
river, &c.] stop, cease to 
run or fi.ow ; fi.x or pitch 
upon; settle (in a place). 

Ma montre s' arrete, 'uiy watch 
stops. 

Pourquoi s'arr^ter en beau 
chemin 1 why do you give 
over an enterprise that 
would succeedj. 

II ne faut pas s'arreter a ce 
qu'il dit, one must not 
rrdnd what he says. 

Yous Yous arretez a des baga- 
telles, you stand upon 
trifles. 

Apres avoir vu tous les ru- 
bans, elle s'arreta a celui- 
la, after having seen all 
the ribbons, she pitched 
upon that. 

ATTACHER, va. To tie, 
bind, fasten, ma.ke fast^ 
leash, link ; [fig.] engage, 
endear, allure, attach; fix ; 
apply; connect ; engage the 
attention; bestow upon. 

— avec une epingle, to pin, 

— avec un clou, to nail. 

— avec un bouton, to button. 

— un placard a une muraille, 

to stick up a bill on a 
wall. 

— en croix, to nail on a cross. 

— du crime au plaisir,^oma^e 

a sin of pleasure. 
Mon sort est attache au voire, 
my fate depends upon yours, 
2 



148 



IDIOMATIC YEEBS. 



C'est UD vice attache a cet age, 
it is a vice inseparahle 
from that age. 

II est trop — a son sens ; he is 
too wedded to his ow7i 
opinions, 

— , V7i. To engross one^s mind 
or thoughts, 

Les romans attachent trop, 
novels are too engaging. 

S' — a, va. To sticJc close; [fig.] 
conceive a regard, love, 
or inclination for; apply 
on^sselfto] strive, endea- 
vour ; lay much stress 
upon. 

— quelqu'un, to win the affec- 

tion of one. 

— a quelqu'un, to conceive an 

affection for one, devote 
one^s self to his service. 

La vigne et le houblon s'at- 
tachent aux echalas et aux 
arbres, the vine and hops 
cleave to poles and trees. 

La poix s'atbaclie aux doigts, 
pitch sticks to the fingers. 

ATTENDEE, va. To wait 
for; expect, hope for; await,' 
he in store for. 

' — la mort, to he in expecta- 
tion of death, 

— quelque chose de quelqu'un 

(in a moral sense), to ex- 
pect a thing from one. 

— quelqu'un or quelque chose 

de pied ferme, to he pre- 
pared for one, or a thing. 

La misere attend le dissipa- 
teur, poverty awaits the 
squanderer. 

Pr, Attendre quelqu'un au 
passage, to lie in vj ait for 
one. 



Pr, C'est oil je I'attends, or 
c'est la que je I'attends, 
there I shall have him. 

Pr. Attendez-moi sous I'orme, 
you may wait for me till 
doomsday. 
[This verb is often used with 
the preposition apres:as,'\ 
J'attends apres mes che- 
vaux pour partir, I am 
waiting for my horses in 
order to set oflF. II y a 
long-temps qii!on attend 
apres vous, we have been 
long waiting for you. Je 
71^ attends pas apres cela, I 
am in a condition to do 
without it. 

— vn. To stay, wait, tarry, 

he in expectation. 
Attendons encore un pen, let 

us stay a little longer. 
Qu'il attende, let him v:ait. 
Attendez, hold, stay. 
Se faire attendre, to make other 
people wait for one's coming, 
Pr. Tout vient k, point k qui 

peut — , patience hrings 

all things about. 

ATTRAPER, va. to entrap, 
ensnare; cheat, trick, out- 
wit; overtake, catch; oh- 
tain; get, contract (any in- 
fection or disease) ; hit, 
reach; apprehend; imitate. 

Attraper, quelqu'un, to cheat 
one. 

— quelqu'un a la tete, to hit 

one on the head. 

— quelqu'un sur le fait, to sur- 

prise one in the fact. 

— le sens d'un passage, to dis- 

cover or hit upon the sense 
of a passage. 



IDIOMATIC YEEBS. 



149 



Attrapperun caract^re, 2^0 hit a 
character^ express it loell. 

— bien la ressemblance, to 

draxo very like. 

— le coiirrier, to overtake the 

mail. 

— le printemps, to reach the 

spring. 
Se laisser — , to get entrapped. 

AVANCER, va. To bring, 
put forioard^set forth, oy for- 
ward ; hasten forward, set 
forward, advance ; ^^put for- 
ward ov faster-, give ox pay 
beforehand, lay out ; assert, 
b ring fo rth, lay down ; pro- 
mote ox prefer (one); avaH, 
profit, gain, improve. 

Avancez la main, stretch forth 
your hand. 

— la voiture, bring the car- 

riage forward. 
Avancer le pied, to set one's 
foot forward. 

— Thorloge, to set the clock 

forward. 

— I'heure du diner, to hapten 

dinner. 

— quelqu'un, to promote one. 

— de I'argent, to pay money 

beforehand. 

— une verite, une proposition, 

to advance a truth, pro- 
position. 
— , vn. To advance, go on, 
proceed,march on; jut out, 
stand out, stick out, shoot 
forth; improve,make some 
progress, be forward', go 
too fast, encroach upon. 

— en age, to grow old. 

II avance vers moi, he is 

coming towards me. 
Mamontre — de vingt minutes, 



my watch goes too fast by 
twenty minutes. 

L'ouvrage — , the work is get- 
ting on. 

Mon fils — , n' avance pas, my 
son improves, does not 
improve. 

Cette maison — d'un pied sur 
la rue, that house projects 
one foot on the street. 

Cette maison — tropsur la rue, 
that house is jutting too 
much over the street. 

Avancez-vous dans votre en- 
t reprise '? do you make 
any progress in your un- 
dertaking ? 

Vous avez avanc6 de vingt 
pouces sur mon terrain, 
you have encroached twen- 
ty inches on my ground, 

11 n'en est pas plus — , he is 
not a bit better for it. 

Jusqu'a un age tres — , to a 
very advanced age. 

Une femme avancee en age, 
an elderly woman. 

L'annee est trop — , the year is 
too far gone. 

S' — , vr. To move, come, or go 
forward ; progress, ad- 
vance ; [fig.] get prefer- 
ment; [fig.] go too far, 
commit one's self by pro- 
mising, (hc.rnore than one 
can perform ; jut over. 

L'armee s'avance, the army is 
mo V ing forward. 

L'ouvrage — , the work is get- 
ting on. 

Le jour — , it is getting late in 
the day. 

L'hiver avance, the winter is 
going. , ^ . 

II s'avanga jusqu'a dire qu'il 



150 



IDIOMATIC YERBS. 



etait un coquin, he went 
so far as to say that he 
was a rogue. 
Get ambassadeur s'est trop 
avance, that ambassador 
has gone too far. 

AVOIR To have; he; hear, 
meet, ohtain, entertain, hold, 
get. 

— du bien, to have some pro- 

perty. 

— pour agreable, to like. 

— faim, to he hungry. 

— soif, to he dry. 

— chaud, to he warm or hot. 

— froid, to he cold. 

— raison, to he in the right. 

— tort, to he in the wrong. 

— honte, to he ashamed. 

— vingt ans, to he tiventy years 

of age. 
Quel age avez-vous 1 how old 

are you ? 
II a quarante ans, he is forty. 
Avoir lieu, to take place. 
II a eu egard a ma demande, 

he paid attention to my 

request. 
J'ai a travailler, a 6tudier, / 

am to work, study. 
Vous en aurez [you will be 

beat, &c.] youshallhave it. 
II en a, [he has experienced 

something unpleasant,] 

he has it. 
II en a jusqu'a la gorge, he 

is crammed to the very 

throat. 
Vous n'avez qu'a dire, you 

need only say the word. 
L'avoir beau, Tavoir belle, to 

have a favourable oppor- 
tunity to do a thing. 
Avoir beau, to try in vain. 



:YAVOm,ILYA, ^. To be ; 

there is or there are; it 
is. 

II ne saurait y avoir de dif- 
ference, the7'e can he no 
difference. 

II y a 1^-bas un homme qui 
veut vous parler, there is 
a man helovj who desires 
to speak with you. 

II y a la-haut deux personnes 
qui vous attendent, there 
are two persons above, 
that stay for you. 

II y a de faux amis, some 
friends are false. 

II y atrente ans qu'il est mort, 
or, il est mort il y a trente 
ans, he has been dead these 
thirty years, or he died 
thirty years ago. 

Combien y a-t-il de Londres 
a Paris 1 how far is Lon- 
don from Paris ? 

II y a 90 lieues, it is 90 leagues. 

11 y a long-temps, long since, 
long ago. . 

II croit qu'il n'y a qu'a deman- 
der, he thinks that asking 
is all in all. 

C'est un homme comme il y 
en a pen, he is equalled 
by fev) ; he is a man of 
ten thousand. 

C'est une femme comme il n'y 
en a point, she has not 
her equal. 

BAISSER, va. To let down, 
bring lovjer, hear down, 
stoop, flap. 
Baisser un pont-levis, to let 

down a drawbridge. 
— la toile, to drop the curtain 
(in a theatre.) 



IDIOMATIC YEKBS. 



151 



Baisser une muraille, to lower 
a wall. 

— le bords d'lm chapeau, to 

fiap a hat, 

— les voiles, to lower the sails. 

— le pavilion, to strike the flag. 

— pavilion, to strike. 

— pavilion devant quelqu'iin 

[fig.], to submit to one. 

— roreilie [fig.], to despond. 
Nos troupes fondirent sur 

Tennemi tete baissee, our 

troops rushed headlong 

upon the enemy. 
Donner tete — dans le danger, 

to run headlong into 

danger. 
Baissez les stores, let down 

the blinds. 

— vn. To fall, decrease in 

value; decay, grow wo7'se ; 

sink. 
Le jour baisse, it grows late. 
Les actions de banque bais- 

sent, the bank shares or 

stocks are falling. 
La vue commence a lui bais- 
ser, his sight begins to 

fail him. 
II baisse a vue d'oeil, he decays 

visibly. 
Le vin baisse, the wine groivs 

flat, 

BANDER, va. To bind or 
tie ivith a fillet, Sc; bend, 
strai'n, stretch. 

— quelqu'un, or- les yeux a 

quelqu'un, to blindfold 
one, 

— une arme a feu, to cock a 

gun or pistol. 
Bander son esprit, or avoir 
r esprit baude, to be in- 
tensely engaged. 



Bander une plaie, to dress a 
wound. 

BATTRE, va. To beat, strike, 
Sc; defeat, conquer ; mint 
coin ; thresh (corn, &c.) ,• 
[in games], vjin several 
games; shuflle(GSiYds); wash, 
bathe (like a river); pound; 
[artil.] fire upon, hatter; 
mix wp; beat (the drum) ; 
[mus.] beat time; take up 
(at backgammon, &c.) 

— quelqu'un comme platre 

[fig.] to beat one to a 
tnummy. 

— I'eau [fig.] to work to no 

purpose. 

— la campagne, to scout ; 

[fig.] speak at random; 
be delirious. 

— le pave, to spend one's time 

in running up cmd down 
the streets. 

— le briquet, to strike a light, 

— la chamade,2Jo&5a? a parley. 

— un bois, to beat a wood for 

game. 
■ — un noyer, to beat walnuts 
down. 

— du beurre, to churn. 

— du poivre, de la canelle, to 

pound pepper, or cinna- 
mon. 

— une allee, to beat, roll, 

smooth a walk. 

— monnaie, to coin. 

— la mesure, to beat time, 

— les cartes, to shuffle the 

cards, 

— le fer sur Tenclume, to 

forge. ^ 
La riviere bat les murs de la 
ville, the river bathes the 
walls of the town. 



152 



IDIOMATIC YEEBS. 



Pr. 11 faut battre le fer pen- 
dant qu'il est chaud, make 
hay while the snn shines. 

Le pouls lui bat, his pulse If eats. 

Le coeur me bat encore, my 
heart goes iiit-a-jmt ; I 
am afraid. 

Ma montre bat encore, my 
watch goes still. 

Le fer de ce cheval bat, the 
shoe of that horse is loose. 

Le soleil bat a plomb, the sun 
shoots iieryendicularly . 

Battre des mains, to clap, ap- 
plaud. 

— des ailes, [speaking of 

birds,] to flap, aflutter. 

— en retraite, to retreat ; re- 

tire out of any company ; 
[fig.] recant. 

— froid a quelqu'un [fig.], to 

looh cold upon one; re- 
ceive him. coldly. 

Pr. Ne battre plus que d'une 
aile, to have lost one^s 
strength, credit, or m- 
terest. 

SE— , vr. To fight, scu^e, 
engage. 

— en retraite, to maintain a 

runningjight. 

— en duel, tojight a duel. 

— les flancs, [fig.], to strive 

hard, and to no purpose. 
Se faire battre, to get one's self 
l?eat or ill-treated. 

BATTU, E. jM. Beaten, beat ; 

spiritless; weather-beaten. 
Vaisseau— de la tempete, ship 

tossed in a storm. 
Chemin — , a heat en road. 
Etre de I'oiseau [fig.], to be 

dismayed. 
Avoir les oreilles battues d'une 



chose [fig], to have one's 
ears stunned rvith a thing; 
hear continually of it. 

Vous avez les yeux battus, 
you have heavy eyes. 

Pr. Les battus payeront Ta- 
rn ende, the sniffer ers are 
to he punished. 

BLESSER, va. To wound; 
hurt; do mischief; gall; 
fret; pinch; [fig.], offend; 
hurt the feelings, &c. 

— quelqu'un au bras, a la 

jambe, au cou, &c., to 
wound or hurt one in the 
arm, leg, neck, Sfc. 

— la vue, la pudeur [fig.], to 

offend the eyes, modesty, 

— la reputation [fig.], to in- 

jure the character oj one. 

— la bienseance [fig.], to in- 

fringe the rules of de- 
corum. 

— le coeur [fig.], inspire with 

love. 
Mes souliers me blessent, my 

shoes pinch me. 
Blesse a mort, mortally 

wounded. 
II a le cerveau — , he is crack- 
brained. 
II est — de votre oubli, he is 

offended at your neglect. 
Cela ne blesse personne, that 

hurts no one. 
Ayez soin des blesses, take 

care of the wounded. 
Pr. Vous ne savez pas ou le 

b^t le blesse, you don't 

know where the shoe 

pinches. 

BOIRE, va. and n. To drink, 
carouse, quaff, tope; beacon- 



IDIOMATIC VEEBS. 



153 



Jirmed drunkard; blot (as 
paper does) ; soak^ iml)ibe. 
Boire a sa soif, to drink in or- 
der to qiteiich one's thirst. 

— a la ronde, to put the glass 

about, 

— a la glace, to drink with ice, 

— dans un verre,dans le creux 

de la main, to drink out of 
a glass,, out of the hand, 

— a TAllemande, or^ a tire- 

larigotj^rcomme un trou, 
or comme un Templier, to 
drink like a fish, or very 
hard, 

— a la sant6 de quelqu'un, or 

a quelqu'un, [a custom 
borrowed from the Eo- 
mans,] to drink one's 
health. 

— le vin de I'e trier, to have a 

parting glass, 

— un affront [fig.], to put up 

with an affront. 
Donner pour — a des ouvriers, 

to give workmen drink- 
money. 
Mener — les bestiaux, to take 

cattle to water. 
Le papier boit, the paper sinlis 

or blots, 
Pr. Qui bon I'acliete, bon le 

boit, as you brew, so you 

must drink. 
Pr. Qui a bu boira, habits 

ever remain. 
Pr. Puisque le vin est tire, il 

faut le boire, now the ale 

is drawn, it must be drunk. 



BEULEE. va. To burn, con- 
sume by fire ; far eh, scorch, 
blast; swelter ; [said of li- 
quors,] infiame. 



Bruler de la houille, to burn 
coals. 

— la cervelle a quelqu'un, to 

blow one's brains out. 

— du vin, to distil wine, make 

brandy. 

La neige brule les souliers, 
the snow rots the shoes. 

Tirer un homme a brule pour- 
point, to shoot a man with 
one's gun close to his 
breast. 

Unraisonnementabrule pour- 
point, a home argument. 

Du vin brtile, mulled wine. 

Un cerveau — , an enthusiast, 
a fanatic. 

Avoir le teint — , to be sun- 
burnt. 

— , vn. To burn, be on ^ fire; 
wish earnestly; be in love 
(with one); be very hot. 

Les mains lui briilent, his 
hands burn. 

Bruler d'amour, to be passion- 
ately in love. 

— d'impatience, or a petit feu, 

to long with impatience. 

— d'un feu lent, to pine away. 
Les pieds lui brulent, he longs 

with great impatience to 

go thither. 
Le tapis brule[with gamesters] 

down with your stake. 
SE, — , vr. To burn, burn 

one's self ; be burnt, 

— a la main, 2^6> burn one's self 

in the hand. 
Pr. Yenir — a la chandelle, 
to burn one's wings at the 
candle ; fall into the snare. 



CHANTEE, va and n. To 

sing; praise; celebrate; lam- 



154 



IDIOMATIC VERBS. 



poon ; squeak (in speaking) ; 
warble (as birds do). 
Chanter juste, faux, to sing in 
tune^ out of tune. 

— k pleine voix, to sing loud. 
II chante toujours la meme 

chose, lie still harps tipon 
the same string. 

Voyons ce que cet homme, 
cet auteur chante, let us 
see what that man., that 
author., has to say for 
himself [Also said of 
things.] 

Chanter injures, pouilles a 
quelqu'un, to ahuse one. 

Faire — quelqu'un, to render 
one more tractable 

— une gamme a quelqu'un, to 

reprimand one severely. 

— la palinodie, to recant. 
Pain a — , wafer ; consecrated 

bread. 

CH AEGER, va. To load, bur- 
den; load with; a charge., load 
(with powder and bullets) ; 
enlarge, attack, fall upon ; 
cliarge, commiand ; charge, 
intrust, give the care of ; 
[law,] charge, accuse ; write 
down, register ; exaggerate; 
Jill ; put a weight upon ; 
make deep ; crowd. 
— un cheval, to load a horse. 
— I'estomac,^^ load the stomach 
— quelqu'un de coups, to maul 

one. 
— a balle, a poudre, to load 
with shot,with jjownler only 
— X Qrmexni,to attack the enemy 
— sa pipe, to fill one's pipe. 
— un balancier, to put a weight 
upon the balance (of a 
clock.) 



Charger une couleur, to make 
a colour too deep. 

— une page, to crowd a page. 

— un portrait, to overcharge 

a picture. 

— quelqu'un de, to commis- 

sion, desire one to ; in- 
struct, charge one with. 

Je vous charge de lui en parler, 
I desire you to speak to 
him on the subject. 

Une terre chargee de dettes,fm 
estate clogged with debts. 

Un homme charge de dettes, 
a vian deep in debt. 

Elle est chargee de quatre 
petits enfans, she has four 
little children to maintain 

Avoir les yeux charges, to have 
one's eyes swelled. 

Des des — , false, or loaded dice. 

Le temps, I'horizon, est charge, 
the weather, the horizon 
is cloudy, overcast. 

Un charge d'affaires, a proxy 
or cliarge d'affaires. 

SE — , vr. To talie upon one's 
self; taJie charge; load 
one's self. 

Je me charge de faire tout ce 
qui sera necessaire, I un- 
dertake to do whatever 
will be requisite. 

Le temps se charge, the wea- 
ther is getting cloudy. 



CHASSER, va. To hunt, 
hound, chase ; turn out, put 
out, drive out or away, ba- 
nish, dispel, turn away, 
throw off; drive before one ; 
driveforward. 

— des oiseaux, to scare away 
birds. 



IDIOMATIC YEEBS. 



155 



Chasser un domestique, to 
discharge a servant. 

Je I'ai chasse de chez moi, I 
have turned him out of 
doors, 

Leurs chiens ne cliassent pas 
ensemble, they are at va- 
riance. 

Pr. Un clou chasse ^autre,c?^^ 
7iail drives another; anew 
passion, d;c., extinguishes 
an old one. 

Pr. La faim chasse le loup du 
bois, hunger will Ifreali 
through stone walls. 

— , va. To hunt; course; shoot; 
drive (as gunpowder.) 

— au fusil, to shoot, go a 

shooting. 

— aux perdrix, to shoot par- 

tridges. 

— sur les terres de quel- 

qu'un [fig.], to encroach 
upon one's rights. 
Pr. Bon chien chasse de race, 
cat after kind. 

CHAUSSER, va. To put on 
shoes or stockings, or Ifoth ; 
make shoes, he a shoemalier. 
Chaussez-vous, put on your 

stockings; put on your 

shoes ; put on your shoes 

and stockings. 
Chausser le cothurne, to set 

up for a tragedian. 
Un esprit chausse de travers, 

a cross-grained mind. 
Pr. II est sorti un pied chausse 

et I'autre nu,7^^ scamioered 

away in haste. 
Pr. Elle est toute des mieux 

chausses, she is a pretty, 

or fashionaUe girl, or 

woman. 



Chausser, vn. To have afoot 

of a certain length, 
II chausse a six points, a sepfc 

points, his measure is six 

or seven inches, 
Des bas, des souliers, qui 

chaussent bien, stockings, 

shoes, that fit well. 
lis chaussent a meme .point 

[fig.], they are of the same 

kidney. 
SE — , vr. To put one's shoes 

or stockings on. 

CHERCHER, va. To look or 
se'ekfor, search, he in quest 
of; [fig.], mind ; [fig.], en- 
deavour ; [fig.], investigate. 
Aller — , to go for, to fetch. 
Envoyer — , to send for. 
— noise, — querelie, to inck 

a quarrel. 
La voiture viendra nous — , the 

carriage will call for us. 
Pr. — midi a quatorze heures, 

to look for a knot in a 

hulrusk, 
Pr. — une aiguille dans une 

botte de foin, to seek a 

needle i7i a pottle of hay. 

CHICANER, vn. and a. To 
chicane, cavil, quihhle, use 
tricks; make many words, 
wrangle; [fig.] tease, vex, 
plague, 
II chicane sur tout, he quihhles 

alfout everything. 
II chicane tons ses voisins, he 
wrangles, or goes to law 
with all his neighhours. 
Cela le chicane, that teases 

him. 
J'aiun rhume qui me chicane, 
1 am troubled with a cold. 



156 



IDIOMATIC VERBS. 



CLAQQER, v?i. and a. [Its 
signification will be known 
by the following phrases :] 

— quelqu'un, to slap one. 

— des mains, to clajJ hands, 

— des dents, to chatter with 

one's teeth. 
II claque des dents, les dents 

lui claquent, his teeth 

chatter. 
Faire claquer des os, to make 

hones crack. 
Faire — un fouet, to smack a 

whip. 
II fait bien — son fouet [fig.], 

he makes a hustle in the 

world. 

COMMANDER, va. and n. 

To command, order, hid, or 
charge; hespeak; command; 
or overlook; rule over, 
master. 

— un habit, to hespeak a coat. 

— une ville, to overlook atown. 
N'avez vous rien a me — ? 

have yon any commands ? 

— en m ait re, to command im- 

periotisly. 

— a la baguette [fig.], to rule 

in a haughty f imperious 
manner. 

— a ses passions, to curh one's 

passions. 

Je lui ai commande de le faire, 
I ordered him to do it. 

J'ai — ma voiture, I have or- 
dered my carriage, 

COMMETTRE, va. To com- 
mit ; perpetrate, do, make ; 
commit (a thing to one's 
hand and charge), intrnst; 
apyoint, delegate, co7nmis- 
sion ; [fig.], exjjose {oiiq) . 



Commettre deux personnes 
I'une avec I'autre, to set 
two persons at variance, 

— sa reputation, to expose 

one's reputation. 

J'ai commis cela ^ votre soin, 
or]e vous en ai commis le 
soin, I hitrusted you with 
the care of it. 

Ne craignez point que je vous 
commette, do nothe afraid 
of my exposing you. 

COMFORTER, va. To hear, 
allow of, require. 

La mediocrite de son revenu 
ne comporte pas la de- 
pense qu'il fait, he spends 
more than his small in- 
come ivill allow. 

La mode le — , fashion re- 
quires it. 

— , vn. To let, suffer. 

La dignity du magistrat ne — 
pas qu'il s'abaisse jus- 
ques-la, the dignity of a 
magistrate will not suffer 
him to stoop so low, 

COMPTER, va. To count, 
reckon, numher ; cast up, 
sum ; p)Ciy ; charge, put in 
a hill, 

— les morceaux a quelqu'un, 

to grudge one his vic- 
tuals. 

II ne nous compte pas trop 
pour cela, he does not 
overcharge us for that. 

II compte pour rien tons les 
services qu'on lui rend, 
he looks upon all the ser- 
vices that are done him as 
nothing. 

— ,vn. To design, propose ; 



IDIOMATIC VEUBS. 



157 



thinks repute; reckon; 

rely upon, 
Quand comptez-vous partir ? 

when do you 'propose to 

set out. 
Quand comptez-vous regler 

avec moi ? rvTien do you 

settle with me ? 
II compte arriver demain, he 

expects to arrive to-mor- 
row. 
Ne comptez pas sur lui, dorUt 

depend upon him, 
Vous pouvez compter la-des- 

sus, you may depend upon 

it. 
Sans — , without reckoning, 
A compter de la semaine pro- 

chaine, j^r{?m next week. 
Cela n'est compte pour rien, 

that goes for nothing. 
Tout compte, tout rabattu, 
everything duly considered. 
Marcher a pas comptes, to 

walk slowly andformally. 
Pr. Qui compte sans son b6te 

compte deux fois, reckon 

not your chickens hefore 

they are hatched. 

CONCLURE, va. and n. To 

conclude^close; infer ^deduce; 
resolve upon., determine. 

— un marche, to strike a bar- 

gain. 

— un mariage, to conclude a 

match. 

— un arrangement, to come 

to an agreement. 
Qu'en voulez-vous — ? what I 

inference will you draw 

from that ? I 

D'ou Ton conclut que . . ., ^ 

from which it is inferred 

that . , , 



C'est une affaire conclue, that 
business is settled. 

CONDUIRE, va. To co7iduct, 
lead; steer; drive; command, 
head ; govern ; direct ; ma- 
nage, train up ; guide, su- 
perintend ; attend, accom- 
pany; escort, convey. 

— un jeune homme, to train 

up a young man. 

— un batiment, to siqjerin- 

tend a huilding. 

— quelqu'un, to accompany 

one. 

— un prisonnier, to escort a 

prisoner. 

— des eaux, to convey waters. 

— de I'oeil, to direct or guide 

with the eye. 
Conduisez ces dames an salon, 

show the ladies into the 

drawing-room. 
II conduit bien sa barque, he 

manages his affairs well. 
Dieu vous conduise ! God 

speed you. 
SE — , vr. To behave one!s 

self ; find one's way. 
Je vous apprendrai a vous 

mieux conduire, I shall 

teach you better manners, 

CONFONDRE, va. To con- 
found ; mingle, jumble, or 
huddle together ; mistake 
(one person or tiling) for 
(another) ; non-plus ; make 
(one) blush; astonish, stu- 

Vous me confondez avec tons 
ces gens-la, you make no 
difference between me and 
those people. 

Yos louanges me confondent, 



158 



IDIOMATIC YEHBS. 



your commendations put 
me quite outof countenance 
or put me to the Mush. 

Vous coDfondez Tun avec 
I'autre^ you mistake one 
for the other. 

SE — , vr. To get perplexed 
or entangled ; get con- 
fused, abashed. 

CONNAITRE, va. and n. To 

hnoTV ; understand ; have 

a shill in; le acquainted 

with ; take cognizance. 

Faire — , to show, make it 

appear. 
Se faire — , to make one's self 

known, 
Je le ferai — , I will disclose 

his conduct. 
Je vous ferai — ce monsieur, 

I will introduce you to 

that gentleman, 
Je ne m'y connais pas, I am 

no judge of it. 
Ce juge ne pent pas connaitre 

de cela, that judge cannot 

take cognizance of that. 
II ne connait point I'envie, he 

is quite a stranger to 

envy. 
Je ne le connais ni d'Eve ni 

d'Adam, he is quite a 

stranger to me. 
Pr. II est connu comme le 

loup blanc, he is the com- 
mon talk of the town. 
SE — , vr. To know one's self; 

xmderstand, know ; have 

a skill in. 
II se connait en tableaux, he 

understands paintings. 
11 ne se connait point [said of 

a proud man], he forgets 

himself, he is in such a 



passion or rage that he 
does not know what he is 
al)out. 
II s'y connait, he understands 
this matter. 

CONSTITUER, va. To con- 
stitute, establish ; raise ; 
ajjpoint ; make ; commit ; 
settle, fix; put; form, make, 
make up ; place. 

— quelqu'un prisonnier, to 

commit one to prison. 

— une pension, to settle a 

pension. 

— en frais, to put to an expense. 

— quelqu'un pour son pro- 

cureur, to appoint a per- 
son one's attorney. 

Etre bien ou mal constitue 
to he of a good or bad 
constitution. 

Un homme — une dignite, a 
dignified person, one 
raised to honours. 

Rente constitute, an annuity, 

SE — , to constitute one's self ; 
establish one's self. 

II alia — prisonnier, he went 
to surrender himself 

CONSUMER, va. To con- 
sume, squander away; de- 
stroy, waste, devour. 
La rouille consume le fer, rust 

corrodes iron. 
La douleur, le chagrin le — , 

sorrow preys upon him. 
Consumer son bien en folies, 

to spend one's property 

extravagantly . 
SE — , vr. To consume, waste 

away, decay. 

— en regrets, to fret or waste 

away with vexation. 



IDIOMATIC VEEBS. 



159 



Se consumer d'ennui, to waste 
away with melancholy, 

CONTENTEE, va. To con- 
tent^ satisfy J please. 

On ne saurait — tout le monde, 
one cannot please every- 
body. 

SE — ,vr. To le contented, le 
satisfied (with a thing), 
thinh that (it) is enough. 

*— d'une honnete m^diocrite, 
to he satisfied with a mo- 
derate fortune. 

Je me contente de lui avoir 
prete de I'argent, mais je 
ne veux point le caution- 
ner, it is quite sufficient 
that 1 lent him my money; 
1 won't be bail for him. 

CONTER, va. To tell, relate. 

— des fagots, or des sornettes. 
to relate idle stories. 

En — , to romance ; impose 
upon one. 

En — a une femme, lui — des 
douceurs, lui — fleurettes, 
— ses raisons a une fem- 
me, to entertain a woman 
with amorous nonsense. 

S'en laisser — , to listen to 
amorous nonsense. 

Contez-nous done cela, pray, 
give us an account of 
that. 

CONTINUER, ya. To con- 
tinue, go on with; protract, 
prolong. 
II continue 'k or de batir, he 

goes on with building. 
On lui continua sa charge, or 
on le continua dans sa 



charge, he was re-elected, 

or continued in his office. 
Continuer, vn. To continue^ 

last, hold out; persevere. 
La pluie continue, it continues 

raining. 
Le vent — , the wind holds on. 
Si cela continue, if things go 

on at this rate. 
SE ~, vr. To be going on. 
Le chemin-de-fer se continue, 

the rail-road is going on. 

CONTRAINDEE, m. To con- 
strain, compel; restrain; in-- 
commode ; straiten; jnnch; 
[law], comp}el (one) to pay. 
On le contraignit a or de faire 
cela, he was compelled to 
do that. 
II est contraint dans ses sou- 
liers, his shoes pinch him. 
Elle a I'air — ,she looks affected. 
Un style — -, a forced or iinna- 
tural style. 

CONTROLER, va. To con- 
trol; verify, register; [fig.] 
censure, blame, carp at. 

— de la vaisselle, to mark 

plate. 
II controle tout or sur tout, he 
^finds fault with everything. 

CONYENIR, vn. To agree, 
grant, own; ajjpoiiit ; be- 
come ; Jit, suit, match ; be 
fit, expedient, convenient^ 
meet, proper. 

— d'un jour, d'un lieu, to ap- 

point a place. 
II convient du fait, he admits 

the fact. 
Je conviens de ce que vous 



160 



IDIOMATIC VERBS. 



dites, I agree to what you 
say, I grant it. 

Cette place ne convient pas a 
tout le monde, that situa- 
tion does not suit everybody. 

[This verb is used with avoir 
when it means to suit, Jit; 
and with etre when it sig- 
nifies to agree to, {?r about 
a thing as :] Cette maison 
m'aconvenuetje5?mcon- 
venu du prix, that house 
suited me, and I agreed to 
or ahout the price. 

[It is used impersonally and 
governs the subjunctive 
with que and de before an 
infinitive, as :] II convient 
que vous y alliez, it is fit, 
proper, expedient, or re- 
quisite you should go there. 

II convient de le faire, it is 
proper it should he done. 

[It governs d before a noun, as :] 
II — a un galant homme 
d'agir ainsi, it is hecoming 
a gentleman to act thus. 

SE — , vr. To suit one another, 
agree together (as it re- 
gards taste, temper, &c.) 

COHBOMPEE, va. To cor- 
rupft, infect, taint; destroy, 
spoil; [fig.] l^rihe; [fig.] de- 
bauch or dejile-, [fig.] falsify, 
forge, interpolate; [fig.] de~ 
pfrave. 
Moeurs corrompues, dissolute 

morals, 
Eaux corrompues, putrid 

waters. 
L'ltalien et I'Espagnol sont du 
Latin corrompu, Italiari 
and Spanish are a kind 
of corrupt Latin, 



Juge, electeur corrompu, 
bribed judge, elector. 

COUCHER, va. To put to bed; 
lay, lay down; press down; 
lodge, lay (the corn, &c.) ; 
knock (one) down; stoop, 
lean ; [said of colours, &c.] 
lay, lay on; stake money 
(at play). 

— la vigne, to set a vine-layer 

in the ground. 
II le coucha sur le carreau, 
he laid him dead on the 
■ spot. 

— en joue, to level a pfiece (at 

one) ; aim (at one or a 
thing). 

— sur un registre, to book. 

— par ecrit, to set or 7vrite 

down. 
Le soleil est couche, the sun 

is set. 
Avant, apres soleil — , before, 

after sunset. 
A soleil — , a little after sunset. 
Etre — , to be in bed. 
— , vn. To lie, lie down; rest. 

— en ville, to sleep abroad. 

— a I'auberge, to sleep at an 

inn. 

— k la belle 6toile, to lie under 

the canopy of heaven. 

SE — , vr. To go to bed; lie 
down, lie flat, set. 

Allez vous — , go to bed. 

II n'est pas encore temps de 
s'aller — , it is not bed- 
time yet. 

Le soleil se couchera dans une 
demi-heure, tlie sun will 
set in half an hour^s time. 

Pr. Comme on fait son lit, on 
se couche, as you have 
brewedf so you must drink. 



IDIOIJIATIC VEEBS. 



161 



COUDEE, vcL To sew, stitch; 
join, tack. 

— du linge, to sew linen. 

— en linge, to lea sempstress. 

— a grands points, to take 

long studies. 

— des passages, to tack pas- 

sages or scraps. 
Fr. — la peau du renard a 
celle du lioD, to vse cun- 
ning as well as strength 
against one^s enemies, 

COULEE, va. To strain 
(milk, &c.) ; make (a Ije) 
run; slip, convey cunningly 
into; cast, melt. 

— un vaisseau a fond, to sink 

a skip. 

— quelqu'un a fond [fig.], to 

sink a person, imin kirn; 
nonplus kirn. 

— un pas, to pass smootkly 

over a step. 

— une glace, to cast a plate- 

glass. 

— la lessive, to biick. 

— le cuivre, to melt tJie copper. 

— quelque chose dans un dis- 

cours, to insiimate some- 
tking in a discourse. 

— des jours heureux, to lead 

a kappy life. 
II a coule la main dans ma 

poche, ke slipped Ms hand 

into my pocket. 
II lui coula des guinees dans 

la main, ke slipped some 

guineas into ?ds kand. 

COULEE, vn. To flow or run 
(as liquors); slip (as a lad- 
der, &c.); trickle down (as 
tears); rim or drop (as a 
nose); gutter (as a candle); 



lie Uigkted (as fruit); slip 
away (as time); run smootk 
(as verses and prose); leak 
(as a vessel); go or skave 
smootkly (said of a razor). 
L'echelle n'avait pas assez de 
pied, elle coula, tke ladder 
was too uprigkt, it slipped 
on gave way. 
Cela coule de source, tkat is 
'natural or original; that 
comes from tke heart. 
La chandelle — , tke candle 

runs. 
Le temps — rapidement, time 
flies swiftly. 

COUPEE, va. and n. To cut; 
cut off; cut down; cut out; 
carve ; divide ; geld ; he 
skarp (as a knife). 

— mcDU, to mince. 

— un bois, to fell or cut down 

a wood. 

— un habit, to cut out a coat. 

— la viande, to carve tke meat. 

— en filets, to cut in fillets. 

— un pays, to divide a country. 

— en rond, to round. 

— les bles, to cut down corn, 

reap. 

— par le plus court, to take 

tke skortest cut. 

— les ennemis, to kinder tke 

communication of tke 
enemy. 

— quelqu'un, to ciwss one. 

— la parole a quelqu'un, to 

interrupt one. 

— chemin a un mal, to stop 

an evil. 

— racine or pied a un abus, 

to root out a l)ad custom. 
Cou23er court, to cut skort, ke 
skort. 



M 



162 



IDIOMATIC VEBBS. 



Pour — court, to be short, in 
short, 

— du vin, to brew wine, 

— son vin, to mix one's wine 

with water. 

Un pays coup^, a country in- 
tersected with rivers, S^c. 

Un style — , broken, loose style. 

Du vin, du kit — , wine, milk, 
and water. 

Ce rasoir coupe bien, that 
razor is very sharp. 

Pr. Couper I'herbe sous le 
pied a quelqu'un, to suj)- 
2)lant one. 

SE — , vr. To contradict one's 
self; cut one^s self; cut or 
hit one leg with the other 
(as horses do); intersect 
(as lines, roads, &c.). 

COUEIR, va. To ride; hunt 
after ; frequent ; be much 
about ; be in; drive very 
fast; pursue; travel over; 
run at, 

— la poste, to ride post. 

— un benefice, une charge, to 

hunt after a living, an 
employment. 

— le bal, les concerts, to fre- 

quent balls, concerts, 

— les boutiques, to go out 

shopping. 
— ■' sa trentieme annee, to be 
in one's thirtieth year. 

— risque, to run the chance. 

— une belle fortune, to be in 

a fair way of preferment. 

— la pretentaine, to gad about. 

— les mers, to infest the seas. 
C'est une nouvelle qui court 

les v\iQ^, that piece of news 
is threadbare. 
C'est un predicateur fort 



couru, he is a preacher 
greatly followed, 

Ce spectacle est fort — , that 
theatre is very well at- 
tended, 

Courir, vn. To run ; be ex- 
tended ; reach ; o verrun ; 
do too fast ; be spread 
ad out; gad up and down, 

— hj toutes jambes, to run 

with all one's might. 

— apr^s quelqu'un, to pursue 

one. 

— sur Tennemiy to fall upon 

the enemy. 
II ne faut pas — en lisant, you 

must not read too fast. 
II court un libelle, a libel is 

spread ahout. 
Courir k sa perte, to manage 

one's affairs badly. 

— sur le march e d'autrui, to 

out-bid another. 

— sur les brisees de quel- 

qu'un, to strive to get 

what another seehsfor. 
Faire — un bruit, to spread a 

report. 
Le bruit court qu'il est mort, it 

is reported that he is dead, 
II — bien des maladies, it is 

very sickly. 
L' annee qui — , the present 

year. 
Les int^rets courent toujours, 

the interest runs on. 
Par le temps qui court, in the 

present circumstances, as 

times go. 

COUTER, va., n. and i. To 
cost, stand in, be chargeable, 
expe7isive, dear, painful, or 
troiiMesome, 

Cela coute trop cher, it costs 
too much. 



IDIOMATIC YEEBS. 



163 



Combien — la livre de beurre ? 

what is hutter a pound ? 
Combien — le litre 1 Tiow 

much is it a litre ? 
Combien cela coutera-t-il ? 

what will it cost ? what 

will the charge, Sfc, he ? 
L' argent ne lui coute gu^res, 

he sets hut little value upon 

money. 
Sa mort m'a coute bien des 

larmes, his death made 

me shed many tears. 
Les voyages coMent toujours, 

travelling is always ex- 



La gloire coute ^ acquerir, 

glory is a dear purchase. 
Que coute-t-il de souhaiter ? ?^6>- 

thing is so easy as wishing. 
Tout lui — , he does everything 

agairist the grain. 
II m'en — de vous dire, I am 

grieved to tell you. 
Fr. II n'y a que le premier pas 

qui — , the first step is the 

only difficulty. 

COUYEIR, va. To cover, coat, 
lay over ; load, cloali, colour, 
disguise, conceal; [fig.], de- 
fend, protect; envelop; over- 
spread ; overwhelm ; [fig.] 
cover, copulate, leap. 

— une maison, to tile or slate 

a house. 

— une muraille de marbre, to 

line, ov Jace a wall with 
marhle. 

— les pauvres, to clothe the 

poor. 

— tout un pays, to defend a 

whole country. 

— de lionte, to load with 

shame. 



Couvrir sa faute, to palliate 

oneh fault. 
II couvre bien ses desseins, il 

couvre bien sa marche 

\^g^ he keeps his designs 

very secret. 

CHEYEE, va. To lurst, hreak, 
tear, rupture; cram with 
victuals. 

— une vessie,^6) hreah a hlister 

— les yeux a quelqu'un, to 

put out one's eyes. 

— un cheval, to jade a horse. 
Cela vous cr^ve les yeux, it 

stares you in the face. 
Cela creve le coeur, that's 

heart hreahing. 
Crever, vn. To hiirst ; die. 
La grenade lui creva dans la 

main, the grenade hurst 

in his hand. 
II cr^ve de rire, he laughs im- 
moderately. 
Elle creve de chaud, she is 

extremely hot. 
Cet homme creve d'orgueil, 

that man is puffed up 

with pride. 
Manger a crever, to eat ready 

to hurst. 

CUIHE, va. and n. To Ml, 

roast, broil, do or dress (vic- 
tuals, &c.); [fig.] digest, con- 
coct ; [fig.] ripen (fruit, &c.) 
he roasting, hoiling, hroil- 
ing, or hahing ; [fig.] hum ; 
[fig.] smart. 
• un peu, to poach, 

— au four, to hake. 
entre deux plats, to stew 

hetween two pans. 
Faire — un gigot au four, to 
hake a leg of mutton. 



164 



IDIOMATIG VERBS. 



Cela est trop cuit, n'est pas as- 
sez — , that is overdone, 
underdone. 

Le souper cuit, the supper is 
jjreparing. 

Les yeux me cuisent comme 
du feu [fig.] my eyes hum 
liUeJire. 

II vous en cuira quelque jour 
[fig.] you will smart for 
it some day or other. 

Pr. Vous viendrez cuire a 
notre four [by way of a 
threat.] I shall catch you 
some day carrying corn 
to our mill. 

Fr. Trop gratter cuit, trop 
parler nuit, one must not 
ruh an old sore ; the 
least said is the soonest ' 
mended. 

Fr. Avoir du pain cuit, to 
have a competency; he 
well off (in some parti- 
cular things, &c.) 
Fr. Liberte et pain cuit ! 
liberty and three meals a 
day ! 

DANSER, va, and 7i. To dance. 
Maitre a — , dancing -master. 
Danser sur la corde, to dance 

up 071 the rope. 
Fr. II ne sait plus sur quel 

pied — , he is put to his 

last shifts. 
Fr. Je le ferai — , I shall cut 

out worhfor him. 
Fr. II la dansera, he shall 

smart for it. ^ 

DECHAEGER, va. To dis- 
charge, unload (goods) ; ease; 
free or release; unload (fire- 
arms) ; Jlre off ; clear or 



acquit from; oi^en; empty; 
give or bestow ; vent ; lop. 
De charger un chariot, to un- 
load a waggon. 

— sa conscience, to ease one^s 
conscience. 

— quelqu'un de soins, to free 
one from cares. 

-—quelqu'un d'un crime, to 
acquit one of a crime. 

— son coeur a un ami, to open 
07ie's heart to a friend. 

— un coup de poing, un coup 
de baton, to give a great 
cuff, a great blow with a 
sticli. \Assener is better.] 

— sa colore sur quelqu'un, to 
vent one^s anger upon one. 

— un arbre, to lop a tree. 

DEFAIRE, va. To unmake, 
undo; defeat, rout ; kill, put 
to death; untie; break; free, 
rid of. 

— un lit, to unmake a bed. 

— une armee, to defeat an 
army. 

— un noeud, to untie a knot, 

— un mariage, to break a 
marriage. 

Je vous deferai de cet impor- 
tun, Til rid you of that 
troublesome fellow. 

SE — , vr. To get rid of; leave 
off; despatch; kill; shake 
off ; sell ; put off; part 
with; turn away; be 
dashed ; fall to pieces, get 
decomposed (alluding to 
things.) 

— d'un vice, to leave off a vice, 

— de sa compagnie, to get rid 
of one's company. 

— d'un ennemi, to despatch 
an enemy. 



IDIOMATIC VEEBS. 



165 



Se d6faire de ses prejuges, to 
shake off one's ijrejudices. 
' — de sa marchandise, to put 
off one's wares. 

— d'un domestique, to turn 

away a servant. 

— d'une mauvaise habitude, 

to hreak one's self oj an 
ill habit. 
Get homme s'est defait lui- 
meme, that man com- 
mitted suicide. 

DEFENDEE, va. To dejend, 
protect; screen Jrom; Jor- 
bid^ prohibit. 

— sa vie, tojightfor one's life. 

— le vin, le jeu, to forbid 

wine, gaming. 

— quelque chose sous peine 

de la vie, to forbid a tiling 

upon the penalty of death. 
Cette montagne nous defend 

du vent, that mountain 

screens us from the wind. 
A son corps defendant, in one's 

own defence; unwillingly. 
Faire une chose — , to do a 

thing reluctantly. 
On a defendu le port d'armes, 

the carrying of arms is 

prohibited. 
On lui a — de le faire, he has 

been forbidden to do it. 
Livres defendus, prohibited 

boohs. 
Le fruit defendu, the forbidden 

fruit. 
Pr. Bien attaqu6, bien de- 
fendu, tit for tat ; they 

are well matched. 

DEFIER, va. To defy, chal- 
lenge ; put to defiance^ bid 
defiance; dare (one) to do 

: (his) worst. 



Je vous defie de deviner qui 
est venu nous voir au- 
jourd'hui, / lay you will 
not guess who came to see 
us to-day. 

Je vous en defie, do your worst. 

Pr. II ne faut jamais defier 
un fou, one must never bid 
defiance to a madman. 

SE — , vr. To suspect, mistrust; 
be diffdent ; suspect. 

— de ses forces, de son esprit, 
to distrus toners own strength 
or understanding. 

Je ne m'en serais jamais defie, 
I should never have sus- 
pected it. 

DEMANDED; va. and some- 
times n. To ask, desire, 
ask for, inquire after ; 
beg, crave; want, require; 
wish for; sue for. 

— avec instance, to imiJlore. 

— le nom d'une personne, to 

ask the name of one. 

— le chemin, to inquire for 

the way, 

— quelqu'un, to ask for one. 

— de la pluie, to want or re- 

quire rain. 

— le paiement d'une dette, to 

sue for the payment of a 
debt. 

Ne — que plaie et bosse, to be 
fond of strife and conten- 
tion; delight in mischief. 

II ne demande pas mieux, it 
is the very thing he wants. 

Yotre habit en — un autre, 
you want another coat. 

Cela demande beaucoup de 
soins, that requires a 
great deal of care. 

On vous — , you are wanted. 



166 



IDIOMATIC VEEBS. 



Qui me — 1 who wants me ? 

Combien demandez-vous de..? 
how much do you ask or 
charge for ., .? 

Je vous demanderai la carafe, 
Til thanh you for the de- 
canter. 

Je vous en — un peu, Fll 
thank you for a little. 

DEMELER, va. To disen- 
tangle; distinguish; clear up, 
unravel; find out, discover; 
debate; decide, put an end to. 

— du fil, to disentangle thread. 

— les cheveux, to disentangle 

or comb out one^s hair. 

— le vrai du faux, or le vrai 

d'avec le faux, to distin- 
guish truth from falsehood 

— des cartes, to sort cards. 

— quelqu'un dans la foule, to 

distinguish one in the 
crowd. 

— une dif&culte [fig.], to clear 

a difficulty. 

lis ont toujours quelque chose 
^ — ensemble, they are 
continually wrangling 
about something. 

Je ne veux rien avoir h. — avec 
lui, I will have no manner 
of business with him. 

DEMEURER, vn. To live, 
dwell; co7itinue, stay, stop, re- 
main, tarry; stand; he left. 

— a la campagne, to live i7i 

the country. 

— sur la place, to be left dead 

upon the place. 

— dans une harangue, to stop 

in a speech. 

— sur son app6tit, not to eat 

one's bellyful. 



Demeurer sur la bonne bouche, 
not to put one's mouth out 
of taste with anything else. 

— en beau cbemin, to stop in 

a fair tvay. 

— d'accord, to agree, grant. 

— en arri^re, to be in arrears. 

— en reste, to be behindhand. 

— a ne rien faire, to stand idle. 

— les bras croises, to sit still, 
— - interdit, to remain speech- 
less. 

— confus, to be abashed. 

— muet, to be struck dumb, 

— garant, to be a surety. 

Demeurez ici jusqu'a mon re- 
tour, stay here till I come 
back. 

L' affaire n'en demeurera pas 

la, the matter will never 

end there. 
S'il en fut demeure la, had he 

been contented with that. 
Demeurons-en 1^, no more of 

that; let it go no farther, 
II demeure, or better, il loge a 

I'enseigne de la couronne, 

he lives or lodges at the 

Crown. 
Nous avons demeure en Italie, 

et ma sceur y est de- 

meur^e, we lived in Italy, 

and my sister remained 

there. 
Get affront lui est demeur6 

sur le coeur, he coidd not 

digest that insidt, 

DETOURNER, va. To turn 
aside, put (one) out of (bis) 
way; secrete, divert ; [fig.] 
dissuade, deter, hinder ; 
avert; [fig.] wrest or distort 
(the sense of a passage, law, 
or word) ; convert to one's 



IDIOMATIC YERBS. 



167 



ov)n use, embezzle; disturb, 

draw away. 
Detourner un voyageur de 
son chemin, to put a tra- 
veller out of his way, 

— ses effets, to secrete onis 

goods (in order to frus- 
trate one's creditors). 

— le cours d'une riviere, to 

change the course of a 
river. 

— d'un mauvais dessein, to 

dissuade or deter from a 
bad design. 

— Torage, to dispel the storm. 

— de r etude, to hinder from 

study. 

— les yeux d'un spectacle, to 

turn one^s eyes from a 
sight. 

J'ai peur de vous — , I am 
afraid to disturb or in- 
terrupt you. 

Ne detournez pas mes ouvri- 
ers, don't disturb my men. 

J'aurais acheve mon ouvrage 
si je n'avais pas ete de- 
tourn6, / should have 
finished my work had 1 
not been disturbed. 

Eue detournee, by-street. 

Chemin d6toume, by-way. 

Louange detournee, indirect 
praise. 

Voie — , indirect conveyance; 
indirect dealing. 

DIEE, va. To tell, say, speak; 
relate; assert; leave word 
(at any place) ; mean, sig- 
nify; judge, foretell; bid 
or offer (mone J for goods); 
[fig.] sing, celebrate } [fig.] 
teach, inform. 

Faire, envoyer dire, to send 
word. 



Dire des duretes, to 
rudely. 

— la bonne aventure, to tell 

oyie's fortune. 
Trouver k — , to find wanting, 
or amiss; find fault. 

— du bien d'une personne, to 

speah well of one. 

— a quelqu'un son fait, to tell 

one his own. 

— h I'oreille, to whisper in 

one's ear. 
Faites-iui — sa legon, hear her 

say her lesson. 
Dites-moi vos Jegons, let me 

hear your lessons. 
Si le coeur vous en dit, if you 

have a liking to it. 
Le coeur vous en dit 1 have 

you a mind to it ? 
Qu'est-ce que cela veut dire ? 

what is the meaning of 

that ? 
Cela veut — . . ., the meaning 

is . . . 
Cela va sans — , that requires 

no explanation, it is a 

matter of course. 
Ce n'est pas a — que . . ., it 

does 7 tot follow that . . . 
Est-ce a — pour cela que . . . ? 

does it argue or does it 

follow that ... 1 
C'est-a-dire, that is to say. 
Pour ainsi dire, if 1 may say so. 
Cela vous plait a — , 1 don't 

agree ivith you ; you are 

pleased to say so. 
II s'en trouve plus de vingt ^ 

— , there are more than 

twenty wanting. 
Dites chez moi, chez lui, &c., 

que . . ., leave word at my 

house, at his house, &c., 

that ... 



168 



IDIOMATIC YERBS. 



Comme dit T autre, as the say- 
ing is. 

Elle a de beaux yeux, mais ils 
ne disent rien, she has 
fine eyeSy hut they want 
expression. 

Charles Y., dit le Sage, Charles 
v.. surnamed the Wise^ 
[This verb has sometimes 
three regimens iia the 
same sentence : as,] II a 
dit de vous a votre p^re, 
tous les biens du monde, 
he said to your father all 
thegoodimaginahle of you. 

[When they wish to attract 
the attention of a parti- 
cular person, or call back, 
they say, in familiar dis- 
course, for instance,] 
Dites done, monsieur, 
rhomme, la femme, &c., 
/ say^ sir, man, woman, 

BONNER, va. To give; he- 
stow, confer, present with, 
make a present; deliver, im- 
part, communicate; put into 
one^s power; pay; transmit 
from one's self to another 
hand; lend; mahe or he at 
the expense of; grant, allow; 
ascrihe, father upon;commit 
to the care of; cause, occa- 
sion; devote to (a certain 
use) ; make a sacrifice of ; 
produce, yield ; warrant ; 
inspire,infuse into the mind, 
(he; suggest. 

— son linge a blanchir, to put 

out one^s washing. 

— de la ifiarchandise a 

credit, to sell goods upon 
credit. 



Donner caution, un repondant 
to give hail or security. 

— un rendez-vous, to appoint 

a place of meeting. 

— jour, heure, to appoint a 

day or an hour, name it. 

— des legons a quelqu'un, 

dans une pension, une 
maison d'education or 
une institution, to attend, 
a person, a school or aca- 
demy (as a teacher). 

— quittance, to give a receipt. 

— parole, sa parole, to pass 

one^s word, engage. 

— la comedie, to make one^s 

self a laughing stock. 
— des coups de hkton,to cudgel. 

— un soufflet, to give a hox on 

the ear. 

— un dementi, to give the lie. 

— de Fair a une chambre, to 

let in the air. 

— les mains a une chose, to 

consent to a thing. 

— avis, conseil, to advise, in- 

form. 

— un livre au public, to pub- 

lish a hook. 

— de I'amour, to inspire love. 

— de la joie, to gladden. 

— de la peine, to trouble. 

— le bon jour, le bon soir ^ 

quelqu'un, to hid or wish 
one a good day or night. 

— la mort [tig.], to hreak one's 

heart. 

— le jour [fig.] to give birth. 

— prise sur soi, to give one's 

enemies an advantage, 

— le branle a une affaire, to 

set an affair a-going. 

— tete baissee dans une af- 

faire ; dans le danger, to 
run headlong into an af- 
fair; into danger. 



IDIOMATIC YEEBS. 



169 



Donner de la besogne or du 
fil a retordre, to cut out 
work for one. 

— deV encen&,to flatter,praise. 

— exemple, to set an exam'ple. 

— cours ^ une opinion, to 

spread an opinion, 

— le ton, to set the fashion. 

— carriere a son esprit, to give 

one^s wit its full scope. 

— tout aux apparences, to go 

altogether by outward ap- 
pearances. 

— entree, to let in, into. 
Donnez des sieges, hrhig 

chairs. 

Donnez-nous a boire, ^ laver, 
give us some water to 
drink, to %vash. 

Je le donne a toute la terre 
ensemble a deviner, 1 
defy all the world toge- 
ther to guess it. 

Je vous en donne deux gui- 
nees, 1 give you two gui- 
neas for it. 

Je ne puis les donner ^ ce 
prix, / cannot afford to 
sell them at that price. 

Je ne saurais les — a moins, / 
cannot let them go for less. 

Quel age lui donnez-vous ? 
How old do you take him 
or her to he ? 

II ne Taura jamais plus belle, 
he never loill have a fairer 
opportunity. 

Tout le monde lui donne tort, 
everybody blames him, 

Je vous le donne pour un ga- 
lant homme, 1 assure you 
he is a gentleman. 

A qui donne-t-on cet ouvrage ? 
to whom is that perform- 
ance ascribed ? 

Vous donnez un sens tout con- 



traire ^ mes paroles, you 
put quite a contrary con- 
struction on my words. 

II ne sait ou donner de la tete, 
he does not know which 
way to turn himself. 

Donner, vn. To deal (at cards); 
engage, fight ; charge ; 
attach a value or im- 
portance to; [applied to 
trees, &c.] bear. 

— sur la rue [said of a build- 

ing, &c.], to front the 
street, 

— a plomb sur la fenetre 

[speaking of the sun], to be 
directly upon the window. 

— dans les tableaux, to be a 

lover of paintings. 

— au but, to hit the mark. 

— dans le panneau, to suffer 

one^s self to be imposed 
upon. 

— ^ entendre, to hint. 

— a connaitre, to let (one) 

know. 
— apenser, to make (one) think, 
give (him) reason to think, 

— dans une ambuscade, to 

fall into an ambuscade. 
A qui est-ce a — ? who is to 

deal ? 
C'est a vous a — , you are to 

deal. 
Cette femme donne bien a 

parler d'elle, that woman 

makes herself greatly 

talked of. 
II a donn6 dedans, he is caught, 
Je donne beaucoup au hasard, 

1 depend a good deal upon 

chance. 
La garde imperiale donna, the 

imperial guards charged, 

DKESSER, va. To make 



170 



IDIOMATIC VERBS. 



straight: raise or set up^ 
erect, build ; place perpen- 
dicularly ; draw up (a plan, 
a writing, &c.) ; [fig.] train 
up, bring up, instruct. 
Dresser una pierre, to square 
a stone, 

— la vigne, to dress the vine. 

— une all6e, to roll a walk. 

— un arbre, to trim a tree. 

— un livre, to beat a booh even. 

— un camp, to pitch a camp. 

— des tentes, to pitch tents. 

— une batterie de canons, to 

erect or raise a battery of 
cannon. 

— desembuches, ^o^a?/5?2ar^5. 

— du linge, to get up linen. 

— un buffet, to lay out a side- 

hoard. 

— un ecrit, to draw up a 

writing. 

— les oreilles, to pricTc up one^s 

ears. 

— un cheval, to break a horse. 

ECLATEE, vn. To split; shi- 
ver ox fall into many parts; 
shine, glitter; [fig.] blaze 
out, break out ; appear. 

— de rire, to hurst out into 

laughter. 
Eaire — son ressentiment, to 
show one^s resentment, 
give it vent. 

— contre quelqu'un, to cry out 

or exclaim against one. 

— en injures, en invectives, en 

reproches, to hurst forth 
into abuse or violent re- 
proaches. 

Ce fut pour lors qu'il eclata, it 
was then he became out- 
rageous. 

Tout eclate a la fin, all will 
come to light in the end. 



ECOECHER, va. To flay, 
skin, gall, fret ; peel off ; 
scrape off; grate (the ears); 
[fig.] exact upon; [fig.] 
murder (a language). 

— un boDuf, to skin an ox. 

Ce marchand est un Juif, il 
6corclie tout ses cbalands, 
that shopkeeper is a Jew, 
he imposes upon all his 
customers. 

11 ecorche le Francais, he 
speaks broken French, he 
murders it. 

Ma jambe est tout ecorcli6e, 
the skin is torn off my leg. 

Pr. Jamais beau parler n'ecor- 
cha langue, fair words 
break no bones. 

Pr. II n'y a rien de plus diffi- 
cile a ecorcher que la 
queue, the conclusion of 
an affair is the most diffi- 
cult part of it. 

Pr. — I'anguille par la queue, 
to begin at the wrong end, 

EMBAERASSER, va. To 

embarrass, obstruct, clog, 
encumber ; [fig.] trouble, 
vex; distress, puzzle, 

Cette charette embarrasse le 
cbemin, that cart obstructs 
or stops up the way. 

Cela m'embarrasse, that is in 
ony way, 

Yous Fembarrassez, you are 
in his vmy, you are trou- 
blesome to him. 

II est embarrasse de sa per- 
sonne, he knows not what 
to do with himself. 

S'embarrasser, vr. To trouble 
one^s self about (a thing); 
he disturbed at ; be con-^ 



IDIOMATIC YEEBS. 



171 



cerned at ; confound one's 
self (in speaking) ; en- 
tangle one^s self (in an 
affair). 

Ne vous embarrassez point 
dans cette affaire-la,c/o not 
he concernedin that affair. 

Ne vous embarrassez point de 
cette affaire-la, do not 
trouhleyourself about that. 

Ne vous — point de lui, donH 
mind him. 

II ne s'embarrasse de rien, he 
is very easy; he takes 
things very easy. 

Sa tete s'embarrasse, he he- 
gins to he light-headed. 

Sa poitrine s'embarrasse, his 
hreast hegins to fill. 

ENFONCER, va. To heat, 
drive, force, pvM, or thrust 
downovin; sinh,ram; rout; 
stick, hreah open, hiock in ; 
[fig.] search, drive into; a 
trimJcmaker' s term. 

— un clou dans la muraille, to 

drive a nail into a wall. 

— des pieux, to dive down 

stakes. 

— son chapeau, to slouch one^s 

hat. 

— un bataillon, to hreak 

through a battalion. 

— une futaille, to clap on a 

hotiora to a cask. 

Enfoncer, vn. To sink, dive, 
dip, give way. 

La nacelle enfonca dans I'eau, 
the skiff sunk in the water. 

S' — , vr. To sink, plunge into ; 
go deep, far, or a great 
way in; [fig.] addict one's ' 
self entirely to a thing. \ 

Enfoncer dans le bois, to go\ 



into the thickest part of 
the wood. 
Enfoncer dans le lit, to sink 
down in one^s bed, 

ENLEYER, va. To lift up, 
raise, heave up ; blow up ; 
carry avjay forcibly, run 
away with ; [fig.] carry off, 
sweep off; kill ; take away ; 
take to the ground; take off ; 
takeout; take from; buy up, 
engross; [fig.] charm, de- 
light. 
On enleve les plus grosses 

pierres avec une grue, the 

largest stones are raised 

by cranes. 
Enlever des marchandises, to 

engross commodities. 

— des taclies,^o take out spots. 

— la peau, to take the skin off. 

— ses auditeurs [fig.], to 

charm one's hearers. 

— une place d'assaut, to storm 

a place. 
La mort I'a enleve k la fleur 

de son age, death sivept 

him off in his prime. 
Ses manieres m' enld vent, I am 

charmed by his manners. 

ENTENDRE, va. To hear ; 
[fig.] understand, compre- 
hend ; [fig.] be skilled in, 
have skill. 
On fait tant de bruit qu'on ne 
s'entend pas. they make so 
much noise, that one can- 
not hear one another. 
Je le lui ai entendu dire, / 

heard him say so. 
J'ai entendu dire, / heard 

some people sa.y so. 
Je ne I'ai jamais entendu, 1 



172 



IDIOMATIC VERBS. 



have never heard him 
(preach, read, or sing). 
EnteDdre dur, to he hard of 
hearing. 

— raison, to listen to reason. 

— le niimero, to understand 

business. 

— malice, to taJce something 

in a had sense, 

— finesse, to find out some 

vnt in a thing. 

II n'entend malice a rien, he 
takes everything in the 
obvious sense or meaning. 

Je n'y entends point de finesse, 
I have no design to impose 
upon you. 

Faitescomme vous Tentendez, 
do as you think fit. 

Entendons-nous, let us come 
to a right understanding. 

Comment I'entendez-vous ? 
what do you mean by that ? 

Pr. Chacun fait comme il 1' en- 
tend, everybody does as he 
lists. 

Entendre, vn. To mean, ex- 
pect, intend. 

Je n' entends point parler a 
ceux qui, &c., / do not 
pretend to speah to those 
who., (he. 

J'ai toujours entendu que 
vous feriez cela, I always 
intended that you should 
do that. 

Je n'entends pas qu'il soit in- 
vite, / do not intend that 
he should he invited. 

Donner a entendre or laisser 
a — , to hint. 

ENTREE, vn. To enter, come 
in, go in, get in ; [fig.] begin 
to do (something) meet ; be 
concerned '.^ share. 



Entrer soudainement, or sur- 
venir, to pop in. 

— bien avant, to penetrate, 

— dans sa maison, to enter 

into one^s house. 

— dans le monde, to enter 

upon the stage of the world. 

— en conversation, to begin to 

converse, 

— h, huit heures [said of com- 

panies or bodies that as- 
semble], to meet at eight 
dcloch, 

— pour tant dans une affaire, 

to be concerned for so 
much in an affair, 

— dans les affaires, dans les 

plaisirs de quelqu'un, to 
be instrumental to one*s 
affairs, pleasures. 

— en condition, en service, to 

get into a situation, 

— en gout, to begin to relish, 

— en colore, to fall into a 

passion. 

— dans les int6r§ts de quel- 

qu'un, to side with one ; 
feel for or espouse his in- 
terests. 

— dans ses besoins, to sympa- 

thize with his vjants, 

— dans la pens6e d'une per- 

sonne, to take the mean- 
ing of one, 

— en age, to be of age, 

— dans sa trenti^me annee, 

to enter into the thirtieth 
year of one's age. 

— en composition, to hearken 

to an accommodation. 
! — en jeu, to come into play ; 
! have one's turn. 

\ — en danse, [fig.] to engage at 
I last in an affair, in a 
\ war, (he. 



IDIOMATIC VEEBS. 



173 



Entrer en charge, en emploi, 
to enter u^oon any employ- 
ment. 

— en possession d'un bien, to 

get into the possession of 
an estate. 

— en concurrence avec quel- 

qu'un, to enter into com- 
petition ivith one, 

— en negociation, to begin a 

negotiation., set a negotia- 
tion on foot, 

— dans le detail des choses, 

to come,, descend.^ or enter 
into 'particulars, 

Faire — quelque cliose dans 
un discours, to introduce 
something in a speech, 

Je ne pourrai jamais faire — 
toutes ces phrases dans 
un feuillet, / shall never 
he able to get all these 
sentences in one leaf, 

II entre six verges de drap 
dans ce manteau, there 
are six yards of cloth in 
this cloak. 

Yoici un remade oii ii entre 
de Tor, the7^e is gold in 
that remedy, 

II y entre pour un cinqui^me, 
he is engaged for one fifth. 

On ne saurait lui rien faire 
entrer dans la tetCj^o^^Am^ 
can be beat into his head, 

II entre de I'ambition et de 
I'inter^t dans sondessein, 
ambition and interest have 
a great share in his design. 

La vertu n'y entre pour rien, 
mrtue is entirely oict of the 



ENTEETENIR, va. To hold 
fast together, hold together, 



keep up; keep in repair; 
[fig.] keep, preserve, main- 
tain, continue, fom.ent; [fig.] 
defray, nurse, cherish ; con- 
verse with (one), hoM (him) 
in discourse, entertain, talk 
with, 
Entretenir les chemins, les 
ponts, une maison, to re- 
pair the roads, the bridges, 
a house, keep them in re- 
pair, 

— des correspondances dans 

les pays etrangers, to keep 
a correspondence abroad, 

— sa douleur, to cherish or 

indjulge one's grief, 

— une armee, une garnisoD, 

to maintain an army, a 
garrison, 

— un enfant au college, to 

maintain a boy at college, 

— un grand train, to keep a 

large house. 

Cette piece de bois entretient 
toute la charpente, tha.t 
beam keeps up all the 
timber-work, 

S' — vr. To keep one's self; 
keep one^s self in the same 
state] speak of (a thing); 
converse with; amuse Okie's 
self ; be preserved, be kept 
up. 

— avec quelqu'un, to discourse 

with one, 

— par lettres, to converse by 

letters, 

— de quelqu'un, ^o^^^a^o/ 072^. 

— de bagatelles, to talk of 

trifles, 
S' entretenir avec Dieu, to 
converse with God, employ 
one's self with divine me- 
ditation. 



174 



IDIOMATIC VERBS. 



S'entretenir avec soi-meme, to 
commune with one^s self. 

II a de quoi — honnetement, 
he has got a decent main- 
tenance. 

lis s'entretiennent d'habits, 
theyjind their own clothes. 

ETHE, vi. To U; exist; be- 
long ; hecome ; go ; come ; 
consist ; he concerned in. 
Cela est, cela n'est pas, that is 

true, or that is not true. 
Cela est de justice, cela est de 

droit, that is just or right. 
II est couche, il est debout, he 

is do?vn, he is up. 
II n'est point a lui, he is vio- 
lently agitated or out of 

his senses. 
Cette maison est a lui, that 

house is his, or belongs to 

him. 
Etre de moitie, to go halves. 
Soit, eh bien soit, well, let it 

he so. 
On ne peut pas etre et avoir 

ete, one cannot eat a cake 

and have a cahe. 
II est de Paris, he is a native 

of Paris. 
Get effet est de la succession, 

this effect mahes apart of 

the succession. 
II est fortement pour cette 

opinion, he is wedded to 

that opfinion. 
Je suis a vous dans un mo- 
ment, / 7vill come to you 

in a moment. 
II sera long-temps a cet ou- 

vrage, he will he a long 

time doing that worh. 
II est d'un honnete homme, il 

est du devoir d'un hon- 



nete homme de faire cela, 
it hecomes an honest man, 
or it is the duty of an 
honest man to do. 

II est de la justice de payer 
ses dettes, it is an act of 
justice to 2)ay one's dehts. 

II n'est pas en moi de I'eviter, 
it does not depend upon me 
to avoid it. 

Etre de toutes les parties de 
plaisir, to make one in all 
the parties of pleasure. 

Je suis de toutes ses parties, I 
partahe of all his plea- 
sures. 

J'en suis pour mon argent, I 
have lost my money therehy. 

Dans cette banqueroute il en 
a ete pour mille ecus, he 
has lost three thousand 
livres hy that hanhruptcy. 

II est en argent, he has got 
money now. 

II lui a donne un soufflet, et il 
n'en a rien 6te, he gave 
him a Mow, and that with 
impunity. 

Ces vers sont de Byron, these 
verses were made hy Byron . 

En etes-vous loge-la ? are you 
of that opinion? 

Vous etes a cent piques de son 
sentiment, you are very 
far from his opinion. 

Ou en est-on de la comedie ? 
what part of the play are 
they acting ? 

Nous en sommes a recom- 
mencer, we must hegin 
again. 

Oh en etes-vous de votre 
Italien ? how far are you 
advanced with your 
Italian ? 



IDIOMATIC VERBS. 



175 



J'en suis a la Syntaxe, I am 

in the Syntax. 
II est a craindre, it is to I?e 

feared. 
C'est a vous a le faire, you are \ 

to do it. I 

Je ne lui suis rien, I am not \ 

his relation. \ 

Cela est bien cle lui, that is \ 

exactly like him. ; 

Etre bien avec quelqu'un, to ' 

he on good terms with one. \ 

— mal avec quelqu'un, to he 

out with one. 

Ce fruit est de garde, the fruit 
will hee]j well. 

Vous y ^tes, you have hit the 
nail xq^on tJie head. \ 

Vous n'y etes pas, you are far 
from the mark. 

Cela n'en est pas, celui-lk 
n'en est point, that is not 
according to our hargain 
or agreement. 

Vous ne m'aviez pas dit que 
les coups en seraient aussi, 
you did not make Moivs 
part oj the hargain. 

Promets-moi que les coups 
n'en seront ^omi^promise 
me not to make use of 
Mows. 

N'est pas toujours gai qui 
veut, he who ivishes to he 
merry is not always so. 

II est des importuns dans le 
monde, there are trouhle- 
sonie people in the world. 

Etre d'une societe, to helong 
to a society. 

— d'une affaire, d'un traite, 

d'un embarquement, to he 
concerned in an affair^ in 
an agreement^ in shipping 
goods. 



FAIEE, va. To do, make; 
create; hear., exert; con- 
struct., frame., coin ; wor% 
effect., perform; act, perso- 
nate; assume, (ff'^ct, pre- 
tend, set tip for ; he, cause, 
get, hring, raise ; hid, get, 
cause, order ; fashion,form, 
improve; use, nurse, t?'ain up; 
[fig.] give out, spread, tell ; 
[fig.] collect, make (money, 
kc), gather; [fig.] deal; sell; 
raise ;takein;reap,7no7v;look; 
value, rate at a certain price. 

' — Taumone, to give alms. 

— ~ la charite, to bestow charity, 

— une bonne ceuvre, una 

ceuvre de charite, to do a 
good work, an act of 
charity. 

— la quete, to collect alms. 

— UD mauvais coup, to do a 

had action, 

— un sottise, to act foolishly. 

— une incartade, to insult 

rashly. 

— un coup de tete, to do a 

mad-hrained action. 

— des siennes, to do some 

foolish, had, or violent 
action. 

— une faute contre le bon 

sens, contre la bienseance, 
to do something against 
good sense, against the 
rules of decency or de- 
corum. 

— une faute de langue, de 

grammaire, to make had 
language, false grammar. 

— reflection, to reflect. 

— attention a, to mind, attend, 

yay attention to. 

— la cour or sa cour a quel- 

qu'un, to court one. 



176 



IDIOMATIC VERBS. 



Faire la grimace, des grimaces, 
to make faces. 

— tort a quelqu'un, to wrong 

one. 

— plaisir, to give pleasure, 

— mal, to hurt 

— des dettes, to contract debts. 

— figure, to Gilt ajigure. 

— flores, to malie a greater ex- 

fense than one can afford. 

— ressource, to raise the wind. 

— fete a quelqu'un, to caress 

one. 

— la vie, to be of or to have a 

dririkin^ bout. 

— la meridienne, to take an 

afternoon's nap. 
'- — les cartes [at piquet], to 
gain the odd trick. 

— main basse, to fall upon. 

— maison nette, to discharge 

all one's servants^ in order 
to take others. 

— les yeux doux, to cast an 

amorous look. 

— la toute aimable, to act the 

coquet. 

— une planche, to make a 

precedent. 

— la plancke aux autres, to 

pave the way for oilier s. 

— quelqu'un riche de cent 

mille ecus, to think one 
worth three hundred thou- 
sand francs^ orjifty thou- 
sand French crowns, 

— la pluie et le beau temps, 

to have everything at com- 
mand. 

— affaire, to conclude a bar- 

gain. 
^- bien ses affaires, to thrive 
well. 

— son apprentissage, to serve 

otie's apprenticeship, \ 



Faire son noviciat, to pass 
through one's novitiate, 

— quarantaine, or la quaran- 

taine, to perform quaran- 
tine. 

— sa besogne, to do one's task. 

— achat, emplette, to buy, pur- 

chase. 

— ses adieux, to bid adieu. 

— un bon diner, to eat a 

good dinner. 

— la barbe, le poil, to shave, 

trim. 

— banqueroute, to break, 

turn bankrupt. 

— bon, to engage to pay. 

— bonne chhre^tofare daintily. 

— gras, to eatjiesh. 

— maigre, to abstain from 

flesh. 

— car^me, to keep Lent. 

— didte, to diet one's self. 

— une chambre, to clean a 

room.. 

— la couverture, to turn the 

bed down. 

— la cuisine, to cook. 

— les cheveux, to cut one's 

hair. 

— une longue traite, to walk a 

long way. 

— beaucoup de chemin, to 

walk a great way. 

— cas, to make account of. 

— ses devotions, to receive the 

sacrament. 

— effet, to operate. 

— des excuses, to apologize, 

— les foins, to make hay, 

— fortune, to make one's for- 

tune. 

— une faute, to commit a 

fault. 

— fonds sur, to rely or depend 

upon. 



ir>IO:MATIC TEEBS. 



177 



Faire un foncls, to lay ty a Faire la quarantaine. to 'per- 
sum of money for some ; form, quarantine. 
use. I — sentinelle, to stand sentry. 

— la gaide, to oe upon guard. \ — uq tour de promenade, to 

— un jardin, to make or dress take a walk. 

a garden. , \ — voile, to sail, set sail. 

— le lit, to make the led. \ — le badin, to play the fool. 
— > une lieue a pied, to walk a \ — batir, to cause to le iuilt. 

league. i — agir, to employ people. 

— des lois, to enact laws. j — le diable a qucitre, to play 

— la loi, to command, give \ the devil. 

laws. I — entrer, to bid to come in. 

— la moisson, to reap the har- \ — eau, to le leaky. 

vest. i — mourir, to kill. 

— des malhonnetetes, to le- : — le savant, to set up for a 

have unmannerly. j learned man. 

— des bassesses, to leJiave \ — I'entendu, or le capable, to 

meanly. ■ j pretend to great maMers. 

— un metier, to exercise a\ — le malade, f6> sham a sick- 

trade. I ness. 

— un gros negoce, to drive a \ — Thomme d'importance, to 



great trade. 

— Toffice, to perform divine 

service. 

— la paque, to keep the y ass- 

over. 

— ses paques, to receive the 

sacrament. 

— ses petits, to Iring forth. 

— le proems k quelqu'un, to 

try one. 

— lorotession de, to practise. 

— la profession d'avocat, to 

le a lawyer. 

— la medecine, to practise 

medicine. i 

— des armes, to fence. 



assume consequence. 

— le grand, to carry it high. 

— le fin, to act it cunningly. 

— semblant, to make as if, 

feign. 

— la prade, to affect prudery. 

— le fanfaron, to play the 

lully. 

— le bee a quelqu'un, to give 

one his cue. 

— le chien couchant, to cringe 

and fawn like a dog. 

— d'une mouche un elephant, 

to make a mountain of a 
mole-hill. 
savoir, to let one know. 



■profession des armes, tole — venir, to call, or send for. 
Faire faire, to bespeak a thing; 

getitwAide; oblig enforce, 

put upon. 
II fait faire une montre d'or a 

repetition, he has le- 

spoken a gold repeater. 



a soldier. 

— des recrues, to recruit. 

— une compagnie, un regi- 

ment, to raise a company, 
a regiment. 

— une question, to ask a ques- 

tion. 



TS 



178 



IDIOMATIC VERBS. 



Je le lui ferai faire, 1 shall put 
or set him about it. I 

La pauvrete fait faire bieo des ! 
choses, poverty puts one 
upon many things. 

Les oiseaux font des ceufs, 
birds lay eggs, 

Un oiseau qui fait son nid ; 
une arraignee qui fait sa 
toile, a bird that builds 
its nest ; a spider that 
spins its web. 

C'est une nouvelle qu'on a 
fait a plaisir, it is a piece 
of news that has been 
forged for sorae purpose. 

II ne fait rien de toute la jour- 
nee, he does nothing, or is 
idle the whole day. 

C'est un homme a tout faire, 
he is a man capable of do- 
ing every sort of mischief. 

Une fille a tout — , a maid of 
all vjork. 

II a fait un cours de philoso- 
phie experimentale, he 
went through, or he at- 
tended, a course of expe- 
rimental philosophy. 

Les religieux font trois voeux, 
friars take three vows. 

Des que j'aurai fait, je suis k 
vous, as soon as I have 
done, I will be with you. 

Quel tour vous avez fait 1 what 
a way you went round! 

II a fait son chemin eii peu de 
temps, he got a large for- 
tune in a little while. 

II fait bien ses affaires, he is in 
flourishing circumstances. 

C'est un homme dont on fait 
ce qu'on veut, he is a man 
easily managed or per- 
suaded. 



Les voyages Font fait h la 

fatigue, travelling has 

inured him to fatigue. 
II est fait a son badinage, he 

is accustomed to his or 

her jokes. 
Que faites-vous aujourd'hui? 

what will become of you 

to-day ? 
II ne fait que jouer, he does 

nothing but play. 
EUe ne fait qu'aller et venir, 

she is continually going 

backward and forward. 
II ne fait que dormir, he is 

ahoays asleep. 
Cette jeune demoiselle ne fait 

que croitre et embellir, 

that young lady grows 

handsomer and taller 

every day. 
Attendez-moi, je ne fais qu'al- 
ler et venir, stay for me, 

I shall be back again in 

a moment, 
II ne fait que de sortir, que 

d'arriver, he is just gone 

out, arrived. 
Nous ne fesons que de com- 

mencer, we do but begin ; 

we have just now begun. 
Si vous n'avez que faire de ce 

livre-la, pretez-le moi, if 

you can spare that book, 

lend it me. 
Je n'ai que faire d'y aller, / 

need not go thither. 
II en fait un grand commerce, 

he sells a great deal of it, 
11 ne salt pas faire son metier, 

he does not U7iderstand 

his business. 
II ne fesait semblant de rien, 

he acted slily, cautioiosly, 
Ce petit gargon fait le mutin, 



IDIOMATIC YEEBS. 



179 



that little hoy is froward 

or refractory. 
Toutes ces qualites-1^ font le 

grand homme, all those 

qualities constitute a 

great man, 
Combien faites vous cette 

etoffe-R I how much do 

you ash for that stuff? 

what do you sell it for ? 

how much do you charge 

for it ? 
Vous la faites trop cher, you 

ask too m.uch for it. 
Cela fait toutes mes delices, 

that is all my delight. 
On le fesait mort, they gave 

out that he was dead. 
On avait raison de la faire 

belle, car elle Test, they 

were in the right to cry 

up her heauty, for she is 

really handsome. 
Cela lui fera des envieux, that 

ivill bring envy upon him. 
Sa langue lui a fait une me- 

chante affaire, his tongue 

has brought him into a 



Cette femme a fait de grandes 
passions, that ivomaii has 
raised ardent passio7is, 
has had many admirers. 

Vn remade qui fait suer, a 
medicine that promotes 
perspiration or sweating. 

Kopium fait dormir, opium 
promotes sleep, or makes 
one sleep. 

Faites-le entrer, bid him come 
in. 

II le fit mettre a mort, he 
ordered him to be put to 
death. 

Cette pluie-Ik fera lever vos 



plantes, this rain will 
fetch up your plants. 

Elle les fera lever, it will fetch 
them up. 

L'amour seul a fait tons mes 
malheurs, love has been 
the cause of all my mis- 
fortunes. 

Si vous faites ce que je vous 
conseille, if you but take 
TRy advice. 

II me tit la de nouvelles ques- 
tions, there or then he put 
fresh questions to me. 

lis se firent tous deux beau- 
coup d'honnetetes, great 
civilities passed between 
them. 

Fasse le ciel que ce jour fatal 
ne soit paspr^t d'arriver ! 
heaven grant that the fa - 
tal day be not too near ! 

Cela fait un fort bel effet, that 
looks very well. 

Vous plaignez-vous de moi ? 
n'ai-je pas bien fait les 
choses ? do you complain 
of me ? have I not done 
honourably by you ? 

II vous fesait en moins de rien 
un gros volume, he would 
knock up a large volume 
in a twinkling. 

Je ne puis que faire a cela, je 
ne sais qu'y faire, je n'y 
sauraisque faire, / ca^^io^ 
help it. 

Que voulez-vous que j'y fasse? 
how will you have me 
help it? 

[The following phrases are 
proverbial:] Qui a fait 
I'un a fait Pautre, they 
are both cast in the same 
mould. 



180 



IDIOMATIC YEEBS. 



G'est un faire le saut, it is an 

absolute necessity. 
II a bien fait ses orges dans cet 
emploi, he has ma.de a fine 
hand in that employment. 

Faites-en des choux, ou des 
raves, do as you list with 
it, or with them. 

11 en fait comme des choux de 
son jardin,Ae makes quite 
free with it, or with them. 

Maison faite, et femme a faire, 
one should take a house 
quite finished, and a 
young wife whom- he may 
mould as he pleases. 

L'occasion fait le larron, op- 
portunity makes a thief. 

II faut se faire a tout evene- 
ment, we must take our 
lot as it falls out. 

Faire venir, or attirer, les 
pigeons au colombier, to 
get customers ; bring grist 
to the mill. 

Pr. — d'une pierre deux 
coups, to kill two birds 
loith one stone. 

Faire, w^. To do, act; go; 
make; be; suit; agree; 
look; contribute; trade; 
[at cards,] deal; see, be 
sure that, dec. 

II fait de son mieux, de son pis, 
he does his best, his worst. 

II a fait avec moi, I have done 
with him. 

Vous dites une chose qui ferait 
centre vous, you say 
something that would tell 
against you. 

Cela ne fait rien a T affaire, that 
is nothing to the purpose. 

Qu'est ce que cela vous fait ? 
what is that to you ? 



Cet habit fait fort bien, tha^ 
suit fits very well. 

Ces deux choses font fort bien 
ensemble, these two things 
look very well together. 

Ce tableau-ill ne fait pas bien 
oil il est, il ferait mieux 
ailleurs, this picture does 
not look luell where it is, 
it would have a better 
effect in another place. 

L'or fait bien avec le Yevt,gold 
looks well upon green. 

La joie fait beaucoup pour 
la sante, joy contributes 
much to health. 

II fait pour un autre, he trades 
for another. 

C'est h. madame a faire, the 
lady is to deal. 

Je viens de faire, 1 have just 
dealt. 

Faites qu'il soit content, see 
that he is satisfied. 

Faites en sorte qu'il ne I'aper- 
9oive pas, managematters 
so that he may not per- 
ceive her. 

SE FAIRE, vr. To get; im- 
prove ; grow ; use or inure 
one's self (to a thing) ; 
turn, become ; give one's 
self out ; happen ; be done, 
be made. 

Se faire des amis, to get 
friends. 

— aimer, to make one's self 

beloved. 

— des affaires, to bring one's 

self into trouble. 

— des ennemis, to bring ene- 

mies upon one's back. 

— fort, to take upon one's self. 

— a la fatigue, to i7iure one's 

self to hardships. 



IDIOMATIC VERBS. 



181 



Se faire Lair, to make one\ 
self hated. 

— habiller, to buy clothes. 

— riche, to grow rich; give 

one's self out for being rich 

— religieux, to turn a monh. 

— tort, to prejudice^ wrong 

one^s self. 

— a tout, to use one^s self to 

everything. 

— voir, to show one's self. 

— medecin, to become a phy- 

sician. 

— les ongles, to pare one^s 

nails. 

— 8B,igner,to get one's self bled. 
Se faire faire les cheveux, to 

get one^s hair cut. 
Le vin se fait, or se bonifie, en 

bouteille, wine improves 

in bottle, 
II se fait vieux, ^6 i5 getting old. 
Je ne sais comment cela se 

fesait, mais nos malades 

mouraient tous, 1 do not 

know how it happened^ 

but all our patients died. 
Si cela se peut faire, si c'est 

une chose qui se puisse 

faire, if that can be done. 
Se peut-il faire, que vous n'en 

sachiez rien ? is it possible 

that you know nothing of 

the matter? 
Comment se fait-il que . . . ? 

how is it, or hoio does it 

happen that . . . ? 
S'en faire accroire, to be self- 

conceited. 
S'en faire un devoir, to make 

a point, or rule of it. 

FALLOIR, vi. Must, to be 

necessary, requisite, needful, 
be vjanting. 



II fallait dix annees de novi- 
ciat, a ten years' noviciate 
was required. 

II faut faire cela, that must be 
done. 

II fallait faire cela, that shoidd 
have been done. 

II fallait y aller, you should 
have gone thither. 

li me fallut aussi payer les 
frais, / was fain to pay 
the costs. 

II faudrait que les enfans ap- 
prissent tous les jours 
quelque chose par cceur, 
ch ildren sho u Id commit 
every day something to 
memory. 

II lui faudrait une voiture, he 
or she should have a car- 
nage. 

II lui aurait fallu de I'argent, 
he or she should have had 
money. 

II aurait fallu s'y prendre 
ainsi, you^ &c., should 
have gone that way to 
work. 

Faut-il le demander ? need 
\fotc ask ? 

Faut-il s'etonner que . . . ? is 
it OMy wonder that ... ? 

II — peu de chose pour vivre, 
little is needful to live on, 

II se plaint toujours, on ne 
sait ce qu'il lui — , he is 
always complaining, one 
does not know what he is 
in need of. 

II me — de I'argent, du bois, 
de I'eau, / must have, or 
Iivant some money, ivood, 
water. 

II me faut un habit, / must, 
have a coat. 



182 



IDIOMATIC YERBS, 



Tu es rhomme qu'il me faut, 
thou art the man I want. 

Combien vous faut-il ? liorv 
much do I owe you ? 

Que lui faut-il pour sa peine ? 
how much must he have 
for his trouble ? 

II demande plus qu'il ne lui — , 
he asks more than his due. 

II ne se conduit pas comme il 
— , he does not behave as 
he should. 

Faites cela comme il faut, do 
that as it should de. 

Je Tai rosse comme il — , / 
heat him soundly. 

Un homme comme il — , a 
respectahle man, a gentle- 
man. 

Des gens comme il — , well 
hred people, respectable 
people. 

Elle a I'air tr^s comme il — , 
she looks lady-like. 

II n'en faut pas davantage 
pour que le desespoir de 
vaincre saisisse soudain 
toute une arm6e, there 
needs no more than this, 
and despair oj conquering 
shall seize at once a whole 
army. 

II n'en fallut pas davantage 
pour le persuader, that 
was sufficient to persuade 
him. 

Yous dites qu'il s'en faut tant 
que la somme enti^re n'y 
soit, il ne pent s'en falloir 
tant, you say that so much 
is wanting of the whole 
sum, it cannot fallso short 
of it. 

II s'en faut beaucoup, there 
wants a great deal, it 
comes very short. 



II ne s'en fallait presque rien, 
there is wanted little or 
nothing. 

II ne s'en faudra pas un Hard, 
there will not be a far' 
thing wanted. 

D^s que je fus habille, ou peu 
s'en fallait, mon homme 
me fit descendre precipi- 
tamment, as soon as I was 
dressed or pretty nearly 
so, my chap hastily lugged 
me down with him. 

II ne s'en faut guere, there 
wants but little, 

S'il n'est pas un fripon, il ne 
s'en faut gu^re, if he is 
not a rogue, he is next 
aliin to it, 

II s'en faut peu, peu s'en faut, 
or, il ne s'en faut pas 
beaucoup, qu'il ne soit 
aussi grand que son fr^re, 
he is 7iearly as tall as his 
brother. 

Peu s'en fallut qu'un accident 
ne la frustrat de cette 
esperance, an accident 
had well-nigh baulked 
her exjjectation. 

II s'en est peu fallu qu'il n'ait 
ete tue, he was very near 
being killed. 

Tant s'en faut que cela soit, 
far from that, 

Je ne suis pas la plus meri- 
tante,tant s'en faut, lam 
not the most deserving^ 
far from it, 

II fallait voir comme nous por- 
tions a tons moments des 
santes, it was a good jest 
to see us, every moment, 
toasting one another, 

II fallait le voir dans ces mo- 
ments, z^ was worth while 



IDIOMATIC YEEBS. 



183 



to see him in those mo- 
ments, 

FERMEK, va. To shut; shut 
up ; fasten, pin, close ; en- 
close, encompass. 

— k la clef, to lock. 

— au verrou, to holt. 

— les rideaux, to draw the 

curtains. 

— la bouche a quelqu'un, to 

impose silence on one, 
nonplus one. 

— les yeux sur quelque chose, 

to wink at a thing. 

— les yeux a quelqu'un, to re- 

ceive the last breath of one. 

— une ville de murailles, to 

wall a town. 

— de palissades, to palisade. 

— de haies, to hedge. 

— la main, to clench one^sjist. 

— la porte au nez, to thrust 

(one) out. 

— la porte a quelqu'un, to re- 

fuse or deny admittance. 

— la porte sur quelqu'un, to 

let a person out and shut 
the door. 

— une lettre, to fold and seal 

a letter. 

— boutique, to retire from 

business; turn bankrupt. 

— Toreille aux medisances 

[fig.], to close the ear 

against slander. 
Les bourses sont fermees, 

money is scarce. 
Former, vn. To shut, be shut. 
Ces fenetres ne ferment pas 

bien, these windows do 

not shut close. 
SE — , vr. To shut, close up, 

get closed. 
Cette porte ne se ferme pas, 



that door does not shut 
close. 
Sa plaie se fermera bient6t,^i5 
wound will soon close up. 

FINIR, va. and n. To finish ; 
perfect, piolish to the excel- 
lency iiitended ; end; [fig.] 
cease, die. 
Le sermon finissait, the se?'- 

mon was drawing to a 

conclusion. 
Finissez de parler, have done 

speaking. 
Finissez done, vous etes bien 

long, have done now, you 

are very tedious. 
II est grand temps d'en finir, 

it IS high time to come to 

an end. 
Cela finit en pointe, it ends in 

a point. 

GAEDEE, va. To keep, pre- 
serve ; lay up or by, save ; 
guard, take care of, defend, 
look to or after ; protect ; 
hold, have ; watch, have an 
eye upon ; observe. 

— son rang, to keep or main- 

tain one's rank. 

— la chambre, le lit, to keep 

one^s chamber or bed. 

— des prisouniers a vue, never 

to lose sight of prisoners, 

— les bestiaux, to look after 

the cattle. 

— les commandemens de 

Dieu, to keep God's com- 
mandments. 

— le silence, to keep sile7ice. 

— la bienseance, to keep to 

decency, 

— le decorum, to preserve de- 

corum. 



184 



IDIOMATIC TEEBS. 



Garder sa gravite, to preserve 
one's steadiness, or coun- 
tenance. 

— des mesures, to he cautious. 

— un malade, to nurse a sick 

2)erson. 

— une maladie pendant deux 

mois, to have an illness 
for two rvliole months. 

Ce n'est point a moi qu'on en 
donne a — ,7 am not so 
easily put upon. 

Je la lui garde bonne, I owe 
him a grudge ; I have a 
rod in ijichlefor him. 

Dieu vous garde, God save 
you. 

Dieu m'en garde, Dieu vous 
en garde, Dieu nous en 
garde, Heaven preserve 
me, you, or us, jrom it, 
GodJ'orhid, HeavenforMd 

Pr. Garder une poire pour la 
soif, to lay up something 
for a rainy day. 

Pr. — le mulet, to dance at- 
tendance. 

SE — , To keep (as fruit, &c. 
does) ; take care or heed 
(of a thing) ; keep or ah- 
stai?i (from it.) 

— du soleil, to shelter one^s 

self from the siin. 
Gardez-vous bien de faire cela, 

be sure not to do that. 
Gardez vous bien de rire, Ueep 

from laughing hy all 

means. 
II s'en gardera bien, he will 

take care not to do it. 

JETER, va. To throw, fling, 
cast; hurl; imt ; [said of 
trees and plants,] 57iO{?z^; sup- 
purate, matter; cast, mould. 



Jeter quelqu'un par terra, A 
throw one down. 

— un batiment par terre, ta 

put down a iuilding. 

— k la voirie, to throw to the 



— des meubles paries fen^tres, 
to throw furniture out of 
the window. 

— des feux, des flammes, to 

ifomit or throw out Jire, 
flames. 

— feu et flamme, to fret and 

fume. 

— une chose au nez de quel- 

qu'un, to throw a thing 
in one's dish. 

— des propos, to throw out 

hints. 

— les fondemens d'un empire, 

to lay the foundation of 
an empire. 

— de profondes racines, to 

take deep root. 

— tout son feu, son venia, to 

vent one's passion. 

— des oeillades, to ogle. 

— les armes, to surrender. 

— une statue en bronze, to 

cast a statue in brass. 

— de la poudre aux yeux, to 

cast a mist before (one's) 
eyes. 

— des oris, to cry out. 

— la pierre a quelqu'un [fig.], 

to accuse one. 

— son bien, or tout par les 

fenetres, to be extrava- 
gant. 

— les yeux sur quelqu'un pour 

un emploi, to think of one, 
design him for a place. 

— des soupgons dans I'esprit 

de quelqu'un, to raise sus- 
picions in one's mind. 



IDIOMATIC YERBS. 



185 



Jeter le manclie apres la 
cognee, to throw the helve 
after the hatchet. 

Le de en est jete, it is resolved 
upon; there is no alter- 
native. 

Pr. Tln'en jeterait pas sapart 
aux chiens, he would not 
forego his hoiJesfora trifle. 

Pr, II a jete sa langue aux 
chienS; he has given iq? 
(guessing it) as hopeless. 

Pr. Je jetai mon bonnet par- 
dessus les moulins, J^^^i;^ 
forgotten the sequel of the 
story ; I do not know which 
way to turn myself. 

Pr. II a jete son bonnet par- 
dessus les moulins, he 
tramples decorum,, S^c, 
underfoot. 

JOUER, vn. To play, sport, 
frolic; game; conend{2X a 
game) ; ylay (at anything) ; 
act (as an actor). 

Jouer de malheur, to he un- 
lucky at play. 

— son reste, to use one^s last 

shifts. 

— sans prendre, to play alone. 

— des gobelets, to practise 

sleight of hand. 

— d'adresse, de finesse, au 

plus fin, to strive to outwit 
one another. 

— a jeu stir, to go upon sure 

ground. 

— au plus sur, to play the 

safest game. 

— a tout perdre, to run the 

risk of losing all one has. 

— de la prunelle, to ogle. 

— sur les mots, to play upon 

words. 



Jouer du violon. to play on the 
violin. 

— aux cartes, to play at cards 
lis sont a — , they are play- 
ing. 

— au volant, a la paume, aux 

ecbecs, au trictrac, au 
piquet, to play at shuttle- 
cock, at tennis, at chess, 
at trictrac, at piquet. 

— a cinq jeux la partie, to 

make five games up. 

— en carreau, to play in dia- 

monds. 

— a quitte ou double, to run 

all hazard, win the horse 
or lose the saddle. 

— a r acquit, to play who shall 

pay the whole. 
Faire — une mine, to spring 

a mine. 
Faire — un canon, to fire a 

cannon. 
Faire — I'artillerie, tojire the 

artillery. 
Faire — les eaux, to get the 

water-works into play. 
Faire — des ressorts, to in- 
trigue or plot. 
En — d'une, or d'une bonne, 

to play (one) a good 

trick. 
Donner a — , to keep a gam- 
ing-house. 
Ces deux etoffesjouent bien 

ensemble, these stuffs are 

well matched. 
La clef joue bien dans la ser- 

rure, the key turns easily 

in the lock. 
Ce ressort — \>iQioi,that spring 

plays well. 
Pr. II a jou6 au roi depouille, 

he has heen completely 

stripped of his property. 



186 



IDIOMATIC YEEBS. 



LACHER, va, and 7i. To 
slacky unbend, loosen; let 
fall ; let slip ; abandon, let 
go ; release, quit ; shoot or 
joop o/'( fire-arms); [said of 
fire-arms] go off. 

— la bride a un cheval, to let 

loose the reins of a horse, 

— le pied, to lose ground; ran 

away. 

— prise, to let go one's hold. 

— une ecluse, to open a sluice. 

— I'eau d'un moulin, to let the 

water of a mill run. 

— la bride k ses passions, to 

indulge one's passions. 

— la main, to remit or abate 

something of one^s pre- 
tentions. 

— le mot, to make the last 

ofers, say the last word. 

— une parole, or un mot, to 

drop a word, let fall, or 
slip a word. 

— un coup de fusil, to fire a 

gun. 

— des chiens apres quelqu'un, 

to let dogs after one. 

— des sergens apres quel- 

qu'un, to set the constables 
after one. 
Son fusil vint k — , his gun 
accidentally went off. 



LAISSEE, 2?a. To leave; quit, 
forsake, depart from; desert, 
abandon; bequeath; give, re- 
sign ; permit, suffer; com- 
municate; give; make to re- 
main; commit to, trust; cease 
or abstain from doing {a 
thing); remove. dispel, yield. 

— 6chapper, to omit, drop. 

— le soin, to commit. 



Laisser tout a I'abandon, to 
leave all at random. 

— dire quelqu'un, to let one 

talk. 

— aller, to quit. 

— sortir, to let out. 

— la bride sur le cou a quel- 

qu'un, to leave one to his 
own conduct. 

— le monde comme il est, to 

let the world go as it will. 
II y a ^ prendre et a — , there 

is to pick and choose. 
Laissez-moi en paix, or en re- 

pos, let me alone; be quiet. 
Laissez cela, let that alone, 

don't meddle with it. 
Laissons-les dire, or laissons 

les parler, let them talk 

their fill, peace to all such. 
Laissez-moi faire, leave this 

affair to me. 
Laissez-moi passer, allow me 

to pass. 
J'ai laisse tomber la carafe, 1 

have droppedthe decanter. 
II ne laisse pas d'etre honnete 

homme, he is an honest 

man for all that. 
Cela ne — pas d'etre vrai, it 

is true nevertheless, or for 

all that. 
Je vous le — a dix francs, you 

may have it for ten francs. 
Se laisser prendre, to suffer 

one's self to be taken. 

— tomber, to get a fall. 

— mourir, to die. 

— aller, to suffer one^s self to 

be prevailed upon. 



LEYER, va. To lift, lift up, 
heave, raise, elevate, take off, 
take away, remove ; gather, 



IDIOMATIC VERBS. 



187 



get in; collect; levy, raise; 
take out of the ground; 
manage, 
Levez votre robe, votre man- 

teau, qui traine, lift up 

your gown, yoihr cloak, 

which drags. 
Levez la tete, hold up your 

head, 
J' en leverais la main, / could 

take my oath of it. 
Lever la nappe, to take aivay 

the cloth. 
— ^ une difficulte, to clear a 

difficidty. 

— un obstacle, to remove a 

hindrance. 

— une tache sur un habit, to 

take off a spot from a 
coat. 

— Je siege d'une place, to raise 

the siege of a place. 

— une armee, to raise an army. 

— un plan, to draw a plan. 

— du drap, to buy cloth, and 

get it cut out of the whole 
piece. 

— la main, to threaten with the 

hand, strike. 

— un doute, to remove a doubt. 

— la Crete, le nez, to be in bet- 

ter circumstances. 

— le masque, to throw off the 

mask, 

— r^tendard centre quel- 

qu'un, to levy war against 
one ; oppose him openly. 

— le lievre, to start a ques- 

tion ; suggest a plan. 

— boutique, to take a shop, 

— menage, to begin house- 

keeping. 

— les oreilles, to prick up 

one\ ears, 

— un arr§t, une sentence au 



grefFe, to take a copy of a 
sentence. 
Faire lever la pate, to raise 
the dough. 

— un lievre, to start a hare. 

— une perdrix, to spring a 

partridge. 

— un siege, to cause a siege to 

be raised. 



LIEE, va. To bind, tie^ fas- 
ten ; knit, unite, join, put 
together ; bind, lay an obli- 
gation iipon, link, "oblige; 
thicken (a sauce). 
Lier un tonneau avec des cer- 
ceaux, to hoop a cask or 
vessel. 

— un fagot, une botte de foin, 

to bind a fagot, a truss 
of hay. 

— les mains, les pieds, to bind 

hand and foot. 

— un homme a un arbre, to tie 

a man to a tree. 

— conversation avec quel- 

qu'uii, to begin a discourse 
with one. 

— or organiser, une partie de 

plaisir, to arrange a party 
of pleasure. 

— une partie de chasse, de 

peche, to make a hunting, 
fishing-match. 

— amitie avec une personne, 

to engage in a friendship 
with a person. 

— commerce avec quelqu'uD, 

to establish a correspon- 
dence with one, 

— une sauce, to thicken a 

sauce. 
Nous sommes lies d'affaires, 
d'amitie, we are connected 



IDIOMATIC VERBS. 



together in 'business,^ we 
are on friendly terms. 

SE LIER, vr. To Und or 
oMige 07ie's self; make a 
league or enter into a 
league(with. one) ; thicken^ 
grow thick, 

Je ne veux pas me lier, or 
qu'on me lie les mains, 
I will not he hound, 

II faut remuer la sauce jus- 
qu'a ce qu'elle se lie, the 
sauce must be kept stir- 
ring till it thickens. 

II se lie avec tout le monde, 
he gets acquainted with 
everybody. 

MANDER, va. and n. To 

write or send word; acquaint 
with; order, command, or de- 
sire to come; send for, call. 

— un medecin, to send for a 

physician. 
Jelui ai mande cette nouvelle, 

I wrote him that news. 
Je lui ai — de venir, or qu'il 

vint, I wrote him to come. 
Le roi a — le parlement, the 

king has called his par- 
liament, 
Elle a dejk — sa voiture, she 

has already ordered her 

carriage. 

MANGER, va. and n. To-eat, 
manducate,feed,mess ; [fig.] 
gnaw, eat up ; [fig.] consume. 

— a I'auberge, or K table 

d'h6te, to eat at an or- 
dinary. 

— son bien [fig.], to spend 

one's estate. 

— des yeux [fig.], to devour 

with ones eyes. 



Manger de caresses [fig.], to 
load with caresses. 

— la moitie deses mots, to clip 

the half of one^s words. 

On se — ici [fig.], they are 
here at daggers drawn. 

Se manger le blanc des yeux 
[fig.], to be in a violent 
passion against one an- 
other. 

Cette forge mange bien du 
charbon [fig.], that forge 
consumes a great quantity 
of coals. 

La rouille mange le fer, rust 
gnaws iron. 

Pr. Manger de la vacbe en- 
ragee, to experience a 
great many hardshijjs, S^c. 

Pr. L'appetit vient en man- 
geant, one shoulder of mut- 
ton draws down another; 
much will have more. 

Pr. II a mange sou pain blanc 
le premier, the happiest of 
his days are over. 

Pr. Les gros poissons man- 
gent les petits, might 
overcomes right. 

MANIER, va. To handle, 
touch; handle often; try the 
goodness of {d. thing) by han- 
dling (it) ; use, make use of; 
[fig.] manage, govern ; [fig.] 
handle or treat (a subject) ; 
[fig.] conduct, carry on. 

— un cheval, to manage or 

train a horse. 

— quelqu'un, to make one 

tractable. 

— du ble, to shovel corn. 

— bien la pate, to knead well. 
II manie bien sa langue, or la 

parole, he is a good speaker. 



IDIOMATIC YEEBS. 



189 



II manie bien la couleur, he 

colours very well. 
II — bien cet instrument, he 

uses that instrument very 

well, 
Ceux qui manient les deniers 

del'etat, those who handle 

the state's money, 
Cela ne se manie pas ainsi, 

cela n'est pas si aise a 

manier, that isnot so easy. 

MANQUER, m. To miss; 

lose, halk^fail, 
— son coup, to le disappointed. 

— la belle, to miss a fair op- 

portunity ; escape a great 
danger. 
' — une occasion, to ^liss an 
opportunity, 

— une perdrix, to miss a par- 

tridge. 

— quelqu'un, to miss a man ; 

come too late where he was. 

Manquer, vn. To Jail, offend, 
do amiss, commit ajault ; 
want, lach or need, have 
need of; fail, hreah, turn 
hanhrupt ; fail, decay ; 
die, miss, forget, neglect ; 
wa7it,fall short ; he mis- 
sing, he wanting; mis- 
carry, miss; l?e out, perish. 

Tous les hommes sont sujets 
a — , all men are sudject 
to failings. 

II a manqu6, he has failed, 

N6gociant qui a manque, a 
hrohen wercliant, 

Le coeur lui manque, he or she 
faints. 

Le pied lui a manque, his foot 
slipped. 

Ce portrait est si ressemblant 
qu'il ne lui manque que 



la parole, this portrait is 
so like, that one would 
think it was going to 
spjeak to you. 

L'affaire a manque, the busi- 
ness has miscarried. 

Yous me faites manquer, you 
put me out, 

Manquer a, To hreak, to fail 
in, to neglect. 

— a quelqu'un, to treat one 

disrespectfully, 

— a son devoir, to fail in one^s 

duty, neglect it. 

— a sa parole, a sa promesse, 

to hreah one's word, or 
promise. 

— au rendezvous, to hreah the 

appointm.ent, 
Je n'y manquerai pas, I shall 

not fail. 
Manquer de, To want; Jorget, 

miss, fail; to he all but, 

or very near to ; have a 

narrow escape. 
II ne manque pas de bonne 

volonte, he does not want 

for goodwill. 
Ne manquez pas de vous y 

trouver, do not fail to he 

there. 
II a manqu6 de tomber, he 

was very near falling, 
II a manque d'etre tue, he was 

within a hair's hreadth of 

heing killed. 

MAECHEE, vn. Togo,walk, 
move step hy step, march, 
go on foot; move; tread on 
ovupon; rank; take place, 

— doucement, to walk slowly 

or gently. 

— a tatons [iig.l to go in the 

dark. 



190 



IDIOMATIC VERBS. 



Marcher droit, to behave v:ell, 
or uprightly. 

— ^ la victoire, au pouvoir, to 

advance towards victory, 

power. 
II ne fait pas bon lui — sur le 

pied, it is not safe to rail 

at him. 
Lasser quelqu'unaforcede — , 

to oictwalk one. 
Les princes du sang marchent 

avant les dues, the princes 

of the blood take place of 

the dukes. 
La nouvelle constitution 

marche, or chemine bien, 

the new constitution works 

well. 

MARQUEE, va. and n. To 
mark., set a mark upon ; 
show, denote^ indicate,prove; 
wound; tell, signify, note 
down, score up; vmte vjord; 
advise; give marks of ; be 
conspicuous. 

— un camp, to mark a camp. 

— la monnaie, to set a stamp 

upon coin. 

— d'un fer chaud, to mark 

with a hot iron. 

— sa reconnaissance, to show 

one's gratitude. 
- — dans un livre I'endroit oil 
Ton est demeure, to mark 
in a book the place where 
one left off. 

Cheval qui commence a mar- 
quer, a horse that begins to 
show his age by his teeth, 

Ce cadran solaire ne marque 
plus, one cannot see what 
o'clock it is by that dial. 

Papier marque or timbre, 
stamped paper. 



Marque de petite \^v(AQ,pitted 
with the small pox. 

Un ouvrage marque au bon 
coin, an excellent vjork, a 
performance of the right 
stamp. 

Ilavaitpour lui des attentions 
marquees, he treated him 
in the most distinguished 
manner. 

Un homme qui marque, a con- 
spicuous character, 

MENAGER, va. To husband, 
spare, manage with fru- 
gality; conduct; treat vnth 
caution or decency ; govern 
with skill ; make a good use 
of; pr(9ciire, help to, convey. 

— les interets de ses amis, to 

talie care of the interests 
of one's friends, 

— quelqu'un, to have a regard 

for one, keep fair with 
him, use him gently. 

— les termes, to weigh what 

one says. 

— ses paroles, to speak little. 

— bien le temps, to husband 

one's time. 

— r occasion, to improve an 

opportunity, 

— une entrevue, to procure 

an intervieiv. ' 

— ses amis, to forbear being 

troublesome to ones friends 

— son credit, to make a pru- 

dent use of one's credit. 

— ses chevaux, 7iot to over-ride 

one's horses. 

— un terrain, une etoffe, to 

make the most of a piece 
of ground or stuff, 

— un escalier,un cabinet dans 

un batiment, to contnve a 



IDIOMATIC VERBS. 



191 



staircase or closet in a 
house. 

Menager sa sante, to take 
great care of one^s health, 

II n'y a rien a — avec lui, there 
is no need to he so parti- 
cular with him. 

Je n'ai rieu a — ,7 have no 
measures to keep. 

iVIENER, va. To lead, bring, 
carry, conduct (to a place) ; 
introduce, take; lead to; 
bring or take along with 
one; head, command, guide, 
govern; amuse, lead about, 
keep at bay ; move ; lead, 
pass, spend. 

quelqu'un en prison, to 
carry one to jail. 

— des chevaux a I'abreuvoir, 

to take or carry horses to 
the pond or to the water. 

— des bceufs au marche, to 

drive oxen to the m^arket. 

— une voiture, to drive a 

carriage. 

— une barque, to steer a boat. 

— bien sa barque [ fig.], 

to manage one's affairs 
well. 

— des marchandises a lafoire, 

to carry goods to the fair, 

— rudement les ennemis, to 

beat the enemy soundly. 

— quelqu'un* comme il faut, 

to use one roughly, 

— a la boucherie [fig.],^o lead 

to certain death. 

— le deuil, to be the chief 

mourner. 

— le branle, to lead the dance. 

— une vie sainte, to lead a 

holy life. 
II mena tout son monde avec 



lui, he took all his people 

along with him. 
Cela ne m^ne h, rien, that is of 

no manner of service. 
Get argent ne le menera pas 

loin, that money cannot 

go a great way^ or last 

very long. 
Pr, Mener quelqu'un a la 

baguette, to govern one 

imperiously. 

MESURER, va. To measure; 
[fig.] weigh, consider, ex- 
amine ; [fig.] proportion, 
compare, rate. 

— des yeux une tour, to mea- 

sure a tower by sight. 

— se depense a son revenu, 

to adapt one's expenses to 
one's income. 
•— ses forces contre un autre, 
to try 07ie^s strength, with 
another. 

— ses discours, ses actions, to 

be cautious in one's words 
and actions. 

— son epee avec celle d'un 

autre, to fight a duel. 

Pr. Mesurer les autres a son 
aune, to measure other 
people's corn by one^s own 
bushel. 

Pr, A brebis tondue, Dieu 
mesure le vent, God tem- 
pers the wind to the skorrt 
lamb. 

METTRE, va. To put, place, 
lay, set; deposit; commit; 
bring, expose; deliver; lay, 
lodge; instal; [fig.] enslave; 
[fig.] make use of, bestow. 

— h, terre, to land, or put upon 

the ground. 



192 



IDIOMATIC YEBBS. 



Mettre de c6te^ to set apart ; 
Tieglect for awhile, 

— au nombre, to rank, mim- 

her, 

— cliaque chose a sa place, to 

put, lay, or set everything 
in its place. 

— des paroles en musique, to 

set words to music. 

— une pensee en vers, to turn > 

a thought into verse. I 

— du fard, du rouge [said of 

the ladies], to paint. 

— du blanc, to paint one's face 

with white. 

— par ecrit, to set down in 

writing. 

— une chose, au net, to write 

a thing fair. 

— un habit, to ]^ut on a coat. 

— le convert, to lay the cloth. 

— la main a la plume, to take 

yen in hand. 
• — la main k une chose, to 
have a hand in a thing. 

— sa confiance, son esperance 

en quelqu'un, to rely upon 
one. 

— quelqu'un sur les dents, to 

exhaust one. 

— un domestique dehors, to 

dismiss a servant. 

— k la loterie, to l)uy a lottery 

ticket. 

— tout sur soi, to put every 

thing upon one's Mck. 
— I'epee ^ la main, ^{? draw one's 
sword in order to ^ fight. 

— la main al'epee, to clap one's 

hand upon one's sword. 

— une chose en tete a quel- 

qu'un, to ijersuade one to 
a thing. 

— une chose au pis, to suppose 

the worst c(m happen. 



Mettre une chose au jour, to 
divulge a thing. 

— une chose en fait, to take a 

thing for granted. 

— quelqu'un en de beaux 

draps blancs, to bring one 
into difficulties. 

— le prix k des marchandises, 

to rate or value goods. 

— en gage, to pawn. 

— en doute, to question. 

— en compte, to put to ac- 

count, charge. 

— en ligne de compte, to pass 

to account. 

— en ^tat, to enable. 

— en evidence, to render a 

thing evident. 

— au jour, to make known, 

publish, 

— une armee en campagne, to 

take the field. 

— quelqu'un en sang, to make 

one bleed. 

— I'esprit en repos a quel- 

qu'un, to make one easy. 

— en apprentissage, to bind 

one apprentice. 

— en gout de, to give a relish 

for. 

— ena^Y&nt, to move or propose. 

— quelqu'un au fait, to inform 

one. 

— quelqu'un h, I'aumdne, to 

reduce one to beggary. 

— a Famende, to fine. 

— aux bois, to bring to the 

last gasp. 

— a la raison, to bring to 

reason. 

— mal ensemble, to set at 

variance. 

— bien ensemble, to reconcile. 

— quelqu'un en jeu, to bring 

one's name into qitestion. 



IDIOMATIC VERBS. 



193 



Mettre en belle humeiir, de 
belle humeur, to put (one) 
into good humour, ^ut 
(him) in sinrits. 

— en or de mauvaise humeur, 

to make (one) cross, "put 
(one) into an ill-humour 
or temper, 

— en peine, to make (one) un- 

easy, 

— en colore, to make (one) 

Jail into a 'passion, 

— au desespoir, to drive to 

despair. 

— a bout la patience de quel- 

qu'un, to tire out one's 
patience. 

— un homme a bout, to drive 

one to the last shift or ex- 
tremity. 

— ordre a quelque chose, to 

provide against a thing. 
- — ordre a ses affaires, to settle 
one's affairs. 

— quelqu'un dans son tort, 

to show that one is in the 
wrong. | 

— tout surledosde quelqu'un, 

to throw the entire Mame 
of all upon a person. 

— les autres en train, to set 

the others on. 

— du sien, to contribute of 

one's own. 

— quelqu'un en justice [law], 

to prosecute a man. 
-r- la main sur le collet h quel- 
qu'un, to arrest or take 
one pfrisoner, 

— C'est lui qui nous a mis en 

train de boire, ^tmas he 
2)ut us i?i that drinhing 
mood. 
II est tres-aimable dans la 
societe, 11 met tout le 



monde en train, he is very 
agreeaMe componiy, he 
sets evcrytody a-going. . 

II a mis le doigt dessus, he has 
guessed right, 

Chacun y met du sien, every 
one hears a part. 

II a ete mis hors de cour et de 
proces, he has heen non- 
suited. 

Fr, II a mis son bonnet de 
travers, he is very cross 
to-day. 

SE — , vr. To put, lay, place, 
or set one's self; attend 
to dress or raiment. 

— a table, to sit down at table. 

— en etat, en devoir de faire 

quelque chose, to prepare 
one's self to do a thing. 

— en colore, to fall into a 

passion. 

— en menage, to go into house- 

keeping. 

— en frais, or en depense, to 

put one's self to an ex- 
pense. 

— en rang d'oignons, to mix 

with the others, or with 
the herd. 

— sur les rangs pour un em- 

ploi, to put in for a ylace. 

— en danger, to run a hazard. 

— I'esprit en repos, to he easy. 

— tout en eau, toputon^sself 

into a violent yerspiration. 

— en quatre pour quelqu'un, 

to sacrifice one's self for 
one. 

— sur son quant ^ soi, to 

stand u])on high terms, 
carry it high. 

— dans le commerce, to enter 

into commercial 'pursuits. 

— a .son aise, to take one's ease. 



194 



IDIOMATIC VERBS. 



Se mettre en possession, to 
take possession. 

— a la raison, to he ruled hy 

reason. 

— en voyage, to begin or set 

out upon ajouinxey. 

— bien, to dress well. 

— mal, to dress out of taste. 

— bien dans I'esprit de quel- 

qu'un, to creep into one's 
favour. 

— mal avec quelqu'un, to fall 

out with one. 

— en chemise, to strip to one's 

shirt or waistcoat. 

— apres quelqu'un, to follow 

one closC' 

— apr^s une chose, to set 

about a thing. 

— ^ tout, to turn one^s hand 

to everything, 

— a, to begin. 

La peste vient de — dans 
I'armee, the plague has 
just broken out i7i the 
a/rniy. 

II est toujours bien mis, or 
touj ours mis proprement, 
he is always dressed gen- 
teelly. 

II s'est mis k 6tudier, he has 
taken a liking to study. 

La peur se mit dans les 
troupes, the troops vjere 
struck with panic. 

II s'est mis en frais, he has put 
himself to expense : he has 
exerted himself on the oc- 
casion. 

II se met k tout [said of a 
servant], he turyis his 
hand to everything. 

On s'y mettra jusqu'au cou, 
everything icill be done to 
make it succeed. 



D^s qu'on lui en parle, elle se 
met ^ pleurer, as soon as 
you mention it to her, she 
falls a-crying. 

MONTER, vn. To go or come 
up, get up, ascend, mount; 
rise; he high, have some 
height; grow, grow up, rise, 
increase; rise (in price^ 
amount ; arrive at, obtain, 
get. 

— ^ un arbre, to climb up a 

tree. 

— en carrosse, to get into a 

coach. 

— a cheval, to get on horse- 

back, ride. 

— en voiture, to go into a 

carriage. 

— en chaire, to preach, 

— sur le trone [fig.J to ascend 

the throne. 

— sur le theatre [fig.], to ap- 

pear upon the stage. 

— a la tete, to fly into one's 

head. 

— en graine, to run up to seed. 

— sur I'horizon [said of the 

sun, &c.], to rise. 
La maree monte, the tide comes 

in. 
Le vin lui — ^ la tete, the wine 

flies up into his head. 
Le ble — tons les jours, corn 

grows dearer every day, 
A quoi — or se — le tout ? what 

does the ivhole amount tof 
Sa puissance — , his power is 

upon the increase. 
Un vaisseau monte de 600 

hommes, a ship manned 

with 600 hands. 
Pr. — aux nues, to fly into a 

passion. 



IDIOMATIC VERBS. 



195 



Fr. Monter sur ses grands 
chevaiix, to stand upon 
Jdgh terms, 

— va. To carry wp^ lift up, 

raise, set higher, heave; 
wind up; set up, establish. 

— un cheval, to ride a horse. 

— les degres, or I'escalier, to 

go upstairs, 

— "Line montre, uu tourne- 

broche, to wind up a watch 
or a jack. 

— iin metier, to fix the yarn, 

fhc. upon a loom, 

— un ouvrage de menuiserie, 

&c., to make up a piece 
of joiner's work, d:c, 

— un diamant, to set a dia- 

mond. 

— une ep6e, to mount a sword. 

— une guitare, to string a 

guitar, 

— un piano, to raise a piano 

a note higher. 

— un instrument au ton de 

. , , ,, to tune an instric- 
ment to the diapason or 
unison of , , , , 

— un lit, to set up a bed, 

— la garde, to be upon guard. 

— un vaisseau, to command a 

man-of-war, 

— la tete a quelqu'un, to pre- 

judice one^s mind. 
Montez tout cela dans ma 

chambre, carry all this 

into my room, 
SE — , vr. To amount, come to. 
Son armee se monte ^ vingt 

mille hommes, his army 

consists of 20,000 men, 
Se monter la tete sur quelque 

chose, to grow obstinate 

in a thing ; be obstinately 

resolved. 



SE MOQUER, vr. To laugh 
at, ridicide, mocJc, deride; 
scorn, despise; not to care 
for, act or behave uiireason- 
ably ; be or speak in jest. 
On s'est moque de lui, they 

laughed at him. 
Tout le monde se moque de lui, 

he was jeered at by every- 
body. 
Yous vous moquez, madame, 

you are pleased to banter y 

madam. 
Yous pensez-vousmoquer,2/ot^ 

think to make a jest of it, 
Se faire moquer de soi, to make 

a fool of one's self. 
Fr. La pelle se moque du 

fourgon, the kiln calls the 

oven burn-house. 



MO RDBE, va. and ti. To bite ; 
pierce vjith the teeth; corrode, 
eat away by degrees, gnaw ; 
[fig.] bite, wound with re- 
proach, carp at ; arrive at, 
get, obtain; like, close with, 
Ce chien mord les passans, that 

dog bites all passengers. 
lis firent mordre la poussiere, 
^ leurs ennemis [fig.] they 
made their enemies bite 
the dust, 

— a la besogne, to fall to work, 

set one'^s hands to it. 

— h, rhamecon, or a la grappe, 

to bite at the hook. 
II ne donne point a mordre 

sur lui, sur sa conduite, 

he gives his enemies no 

hold of him. 
Fr, 11 s'en mordra les doigts 

or les pouces, he'll rue it. 
II a ete mordu d'un chien en- 



196 



IDIOMATIC VERBS. 



rage, he was bit by a mad 
dog. 



MOUEIR, vn. To die; [fig.] 
go off, expire; [fig.] feel 
acute j?;fljm5 ; [said of co- 
lours, sounds, &c.] ^finisli 
gradually. 

— de maladie, de vieillesse, de 

mort violent e, to die of 
sickness, old age; die a 
violent death. 

— de sa belle mort, to die a 

natural death. 

— de faim, to starve. 

— de soif, to he choked with 

thirst, 

— de froid, to starve with cold. 

— de chaud, to he extremely 

hot. 

— d'envie, d'impatience, to 

long mightily. 

— de peur, to he affrighted to 

death, 

— de chagrin, 6?r de douleur, 

to die of a broken heart. 

— dans les formes, to die with 

the help of a 'physician. 

— civile ment, to he deprived 

of citizenship or deprived 
of the benefit oj society. 

II la fera — de chagrin, he will 
break her heart. 

Faire — quelqu'un de faim, to 
starve one. 

Ce feu mourra si on n'y met 
du bois, that fire will go 
out if it is not recruited. 

Le boulet de canon vint mourir 
k ses pieds, the cannon- 
ball drop)ped at his feet. 

Yous me faites — de dire cela, 
you kill me with your rea- 
soning. 



SE MOURIE, vr. To be a- 

dying. 
La lampe, la chandelle, se 

meurt, the lamp or candle 

is almost out. 
II se meurt d' amour [fig.], he 

is dying with love, 

NAITRE, vn. To be born; 
breed, have birth, be pro- 
duced; spring, grow, arise. 

II est ne poete, he was born a 
poet. 

Les fleurs naissent sous ses . 
-psiSyJiowo^s spring under 
her steps. 

Le jour commence h naitre, 
the day begins to peep. 

Dans quels esprits un pareil 
soupgon peut-il — ? ovhat 
minds can entertain such 
a suspicion ? 

Faire — une occasion, to start 
an opportunity. 

Faire — des raisons, to sup- 
port reasons. 

NOURRIR, va. To nourish, 
keejy, maintain ; promote 
growth, ov strength; suckle or 
nu7'se (a child) ; [fig.] bri7ig 
up, feed ; support by food; 
[tig.] keep up, maintain. 
— des bestiaux, to raise cattle. 
Le boij^ nourrit le feu, wood 

feeds or keeps thejire. 
Cette terre nourrit toute la 
famille, this estate keeps 
the whole family. 
Elle ne saurait nourrir d'en- 
fants, she cannot bring up 
children. 
La lecture nourrit Tesprit, 
reading impfroves themind. 
Les enfantsnesont pasnourris 



UDIOMATIC YEEBS. 



19/ 



dans ce college, ooys are 
starved in that college. 
Pr, II nourrit un serpent dans 
son sein, lie clierisJies a 
serpent in his losora. 

OCCUPEE, va. To take np, 
hold; inhadit: occupy; em- 
ploy, give employment to. 

Cela occupe trop de place, that 
takes up too much room, 

Cela m'occupait 1' esprit, t^iat 
took up my thoughts, 

II faut occuper les jeunes gens 
a quelque chose, youth 
ought to he husied ivith 
something. 

II y a la de qiioi — plusieurs 
ouvriers, there is employ- 
ment enough for several 
Jiands. 

OUTEER, va. To overload, 
overwork; override; provoke, 
exasperate; carry too far or 
to an extreme; overstrain. 

— des ouvriers, to overharass 

workmen. 

— un cheval, to override a 

horse, 

II ne faut rien — , we must 
carry nothing to extremes. 

C est un homme qui outre tout, 
he is a man who carries 
everything to extremes, 

Tous I'avez tellement outre 
Cj[u'il ne tous le pardon- 
nera jamais, you have 
provoked him to such a 
degree that he will never 
forgive you, 

OUYEIR, va. To open; hegin; 
unpack, loose; spread. 



Ouvrir la terre, to dig up the 
earth. 

— boutique, to set up a shop. 

— les ports, to take away the 

embargo. 

— la bouche, to speak. 

— un avis, to move, make a 

motion, propose a thing, 
start an opinion. 

— I'appetit, to sharpen the 

stomach. 

— de grands yeux, to stand 

staring and gaping. 

— son cceur a quelqu'un, to 

lay one's heart open to 

one. 
Ouvrir, vn. S'Ouvrir, vr. To 

open, disclose one'^s self, 
S'ouvrir un passage, to make 

ones self a way, 

— a quelqu'un, to tell or dc- 

clare on^s mind, 
Cette porte n'ouvre jamais, 

that door never opens. 
Je ne m'en ouvre qu'a vous, 

1 disclose myself only to 

you. 

PAEAITEE, vn. To appear; 

make a show ; seem, look; 

show or present one's self ; 

come out. 

Quand votre livre paraitra- 

t-il ? when will your hook 

come out? 
Ces raisons paraissent bonnes, 

these reasons seem to he 

good. 
Faire paraitre, to show ; prove. 
Des lunettes qui font — les 

objets beaucoup plus gros 

qu'ils ne ^oxi\, glasses that 

magnify ohjects to a great 

degree. 



198 



IDIOMATIC VEEBS. 



PAELER, va. n. and r. To 
speak^ talk; pronounce; re- 
veal or discover a secret; re- 
commend; talk about; sound; 
plead; meet, treat; speak to 
each other, 

— de la pliiie et du beau 

temps, to talk of indif- 
ferent things, 

— en Fair, to speak at random. 

— comme un aveugle des 

couleurs, to talk of things 
one does not know, 

— a Toreille, to whisper, 

— physique, &c., to talk about 

natural philosophy, 8fc, 
Cela parle tout seul, that is 

very plain. 
II en parle bien a son aise, it is 

very easy for him to say so. 
Je lui apprendrai a parler, 1 

vnll teach him how to rule 

his tongue. 
II trouvera a qui — , he shall 

meet his match. 

— franchement, so speak, tell 

one's mind without fear, 

— en horn me d'esprit, to talk 

like a sensible man, 

Faire — quelqu'un, to mis- 
construe the words of some 
one, 

Faire — de soi, to make onis 
self a matter of talk, 

. Elle n'a jamais fait — d'elle, 
she never gave room to 
slander. 

II en sera parle, it will make 
a noise, 

II faut que quelqu'un ait 
parle, somebody must have 
divulged this secret. 

II faut laisser parler le monde, 
let the \oorld talk as they 
please, \ 



Pr. Parler a son bonnet, to 
speak to one's self, 

PARTAGER, va. To divide, 
cut, part, sever; share, por- , 
tion out; share in, partici- 
pate, partake. 

— I'avis de quelqu'un, to coin- 
cide with 07ie. 

Partagez cela entre vous, share 
this between you. 

Partager en fr^res, to divide 
equally and amicably. 

Son p^re I'a partage en aine, 
his father gave him an 
eldest brother^ s share. 

Les avis se trouvent partages, 
opinions or votes are di- 
vided. 

La nature Ta bien partage^ 
nature has favoured him. 

II faut partager le dififerend 
par la moitie, we micst 
split the difference. 

PARVENIR, vn. To arrive, 
come, reach; get., attain, 
obtain; come to preferment, 

II ne put jamais — au haut de 
la montagne, he could 
never teach the top of the 
mountain, 

— a sesfins, to attain one^s aim. 

II veut — a quelque prix que 
ce soit, he will make his 
fortune at any rate. 

Ma lettre lui est parvenue, my 
letter came to his hands, 

PASSER, vn. To pass; come 
or go through, by or over; 
make progress; last; go 
slide, run, or fly away; va- 
nish, disappear; fade; cease, 
be over; pass or run through; 



IDIOMATIC YEEBS. 



199 



be transmitted or conveyed; 
call on or itpon; he reputed, 
reckoned^ or looked upon; 
happen. 
Passer par-dessus toutes les 

difiicultes, to overcome all 

difficulties. 

— par-dessus toutes les for- 

malites, to neglect all for- 
malities, 

— par-dessus les plus beaux 

endroits d'un livre, to 
overlook the best places in 
a book, 

— par les mains de quelqu'un, 

to fall into the hands of 
one; have to do with him. 

— du blanc au noir, to go from 

07ie extreme to another, 

— par retamine, to he put to 

a severe trial. 

— par de rudes epreuves, to 

go through fiery trials, 

— outre, to go on^ proceed. 

— de 111 en aiguille, to pass 

from one discourse to cm- 
other, 
Cela fut fait et passe par-de- 

vant notaire, that was 

transacted in due form of 

laiv. 
Passez par-ici, come this way, 
Passez par-la, go that way. 
La riviere passe par-la, the 

river rums through that 

placp, 
Passons a d'autres cboses, let 

us pass on to something 

else, 
Cette fieur est pass^e, this 

flovjer is faded. 
La cavalerie est — , the cavalry 

is gone by. 
liiEes beaux jours sont passes, 

my best days are over. 



II va passer, he is going to ex- 
pire, 

II est en colore, mais cela pas- 
sera, he is in a passion^ 
but that will hlotv over. 

La fantaisie m'en est passee, 
my passion is over; Idorit 
wish for it any longer. 

Nous avons passe chez lui, wc 
called at his house, 

Cela m'a — de 1' esprit, that 
has slipped my memory, 

U passe pour un coquin, he 
has the name of a rogue. 

Si j'avais fait cela, pour qui 

I passerais-je dans le 

monde ? if I had done 

that, what would the world 

think of me? 

II m'en fallut passer par oil il 
voulut, I was obliged to 
submit to his terms, 

II a ete oblige d'en passer par- 
la, he has been obliged to 
buckle to. 

Passer, va. To pass, go over; 
exceed, go beyond; sur^ 
pass, excel, outdo; satisfy, 
gratify; drive aivay, get 
rid off; omit, skip; leave 
out; pass, spend; strain 
(liquors), whet or sharpen 
(razors, &c.); slip or run; 
alloio, grant, 

— la riviere, to cross the 

wattr, 

— la riviere a gue, to ford the 
g river. 

— son chemin, to go one's 

way or along, 

— une arm6e en revue, to re- 

viev) an army. 

— le but [at bowls], to over-* 

cast the jack, 

— son epee au travers du 



200 



IDIOMATIC VERBS. 



corps de quelqu'un, to 

run one through. 
Passer par le tarn is, to sift, 
—- une chose au gros sas, to 

exmnine a thing sujjer- 
,ficially, 

— a compte, or en comptej to 

allow in rechoning, 

— sous silence, to omit, 

— un soldat par les armes, to 

shoot a soldier, 

— au fil de I'epee, to 'put to 

the sword. 

— un contrat, to draw a 

deed, 

— une obligation, to make a 

'bond, » 

— la lime sur un ouvrage, to 

polish a piece of work, 

— la plume sur quelques en- 

droits d'un ouvrage, to 
strike out some part of a 
work, 

— desmarchandises en fraud e. 

to smuggle (goods). 

— un pi^ce fausse, to 'put off 

a lad coin, 

— de la farine dans un tamis, 

to holt or sift meal, 

— des rasoir^ sur la pierre, to 

set razors on the stone, 

— une peau, to dress a skin, 

— tons les savants de son 

siecle, to surpass all the 

learned men of one's age, 
Nous lui ferons — sa colere, 

we shall cool his anger, 
Faire — un mal, to cure an* 

illness, 
II faut que cet habit me passe 

I'ete, this coat must last 

me or serve all summer, 
II. ne lui passe rien, he for- 

gives him nothing. 
On a passe le canon dans les 



bateaux, the cannon were 
carried over in hoats. 

Ne passez pas ce prix-la, do 
not exceed that price. 

Ce le vrier passe tons les autres 
"k la course, that grey- 
hound outruns all the 
9'est, 

Je n'y entends rien, cela me 
] )asse, I do not understand 
that, that is beyond my 
reach, 

Cela passe I'imagination, that 
exceeds imagination. 

Nous avons pass6 ce jour bien 
agreablement, we have 
spent this day very agree- 
ably. 

II ne passera pas I'hiver, he 
will not live the winter 
out, 

II souhaitait passionement 
d' avoir cette terre, enfin 
11 en a passe son envie, he 
was very much bent upon 
having that estate, but his 
longing is over, 

II avait fort envie de cette 
maisoD, mais il faut qu'il 
en passe son envie, he 
had a great mind to that 
house, but he must do 
withoiit it, 
Passez-moi cet article, je vous 
en passerai un autre, 
allow me that article, and 
I will alloiv you another, 
Se — , vr. To happen, fall out; 
decay, fade away ; grow 
old; slip or slide away ; 
be contended or satined 
with ; do, be contented or 
make shift without, dis- 
pense with, forbear, 
Ce qui s'est passe avant nous, 



IDIOMATIC VEEBS. 



201 



wliat Tiajrpened before our 
times ^ or in past ages. 

Je dois Tavertir de tout ce qui 
se j)asse5 I am to inform 
him how matters go on. 

Cette fern me n'est plus belle, 
elle se passe, that woman 
is no longer handsome, 
she falls ojf. 

L'occasion se passe, the o])- 
portunity slips away. 

II se passe de peu, a little 
matter sei^ves his turn. 

11 ne saurait se passer de vin, 
he cannot do without wine. 

Quand je n'en ai point, je m'en 
passe, when I have none, 
I am easy without it. 

II ne saurait se passer de sa 
compagnie, he cannot live 
or l?e without him. 

Fr. II ne peut non plus s'en 
passer que de chemise, he 
can no more he without it, 
than a lame man without 
his crutch. 

PAYER, va. and n. To pay ; 
answer, contribute, quit ; 
acquit; [fig.] indemnify, 
reward. 

— argent comptant, to pay 

down. I 

— les inter^ts, les arrerages, , 

to pay the interest, the \ 
arrears. 

— I'ecot, to pay the reckoning. \ 

— de sa personne, to expose 

onehself to danger^ and be- 
have with great galantry. 

— de bonne mine, to he well- 

made and handsome. 
— - de bonnes raisons, to give 
good reasons. 

— de hardiesse, d'audace, d'ef- 



fronterie, to stand or get 
out of a scrape by dint of 
impudence, face it out. 
Payer le tribut k la nature, to 
die. 

— les violons, to pay the piper. 
Se — par ses mains, to stop 

07ie^s money. 

Se — de compliments, to be sa- 
tisfied with compliments. 

Se faire — , to call in onds 
debts. 

Se — de raisons, to be satis- 
fied with reasons. 

Pourvu qu'on paye de quelque 
ext6rieur, p)rovided one 
does but show a fair out- 
side. 

II me le payera, il le payera 
plus cher qu'au marcli^, J 
willmalie him smart for it. 

Pr. 11 en payera les pots cas- 
ses, he will pay smartly 
for all. 

Pr. Payer la folle enchere de 
quelque oho^Q^topfay dear 
for one^s rashness. 

PENDRE, va. and n. To hang, 
hang tip ; append, suspend. 

— I'epee, or les armes au croc, 

to renounce fighting . 
Dire pis que *— d'un homme, 

to give one a very bad 

character. 
II y a de quoi se — , it is very 

pirov oiling. 
Les joues lui pendent, his 

cheehsfall in. 
Votre robe pend trop d'un 

c6te, your gown hangs too 

low on one side. 
II est toujours pendu a ses 

cotes, he is always dang- 
ling after him. 



202 



IDIOMATIC VERBS. 



Aussit6fc pris, aussitot pendu, 
no sooner said than done, 

Proces — au croc, lawsuit tha.t 
is at a stand, 

Pr. Autant lui en pend a 
Toreille, the like fate at- 
tends him, 

PENSER, vn, and a. To 
think, form ideas; reflect^ 
consider ; imagine, invent^ 
have in one's thoughts; be- 
lieve; look to, have a care; 
be like to, be within a hair's 
breadth. 
II ne dit jamais ce qu'il pense, 

he never tells his mind, 
Je Yous laisse a penser si, &c., 

/ leave you to judge 

whether, <hc, 
Yous ne pensez pas que vous 

parlez a une femme 

comme il faut, you don't 

consider that you are 

speaking to a lady, 
Qu'en pensez-vous ? what do 

you think of it ? 
II vit dans la maison sans que 

Ton pense a lui, he lives 

in the house unminded, 
Une chose a quoi on ne pensait 

pas, a thing nnthought of. 
11 Ta fait sans y penser, he did 

it unwillingly. 
Penser a mal, to have some ill 

design or other. 
Sans— a TCi2i\, without meaning 

any harm, 
Donner ^ — It quelqu'un, to 

put one to his trumps. 
11 a pense mourir, he was like 

to die. 
J'ai pense ^tre tue, I have 

been ^oithin a hair's 

breadth of being hilled. 



Pr, Honi soit qui mal y 
pense, evil be to him that 
evil thinks, 

PERCER, va. To pierce, bore, 
penetrate, break, break 
through, punch, prick; 
broach, strike through, gore. 

— avec un foret, to drill. 

— d'un coup d'epee, to run 

through vnth a sword. 

— d' outre en outre, to perfo- 

rate. 

— une planche, un mur, to 

bore a plank, open a wall, 

— une porte daus un mur, to 

make a door in a wall, 

— un batailloD, to make one's 

way through a battalion, 

— I'av^nir, to foresee things 

to come. 
Le soleil perce les nuages, the 

sun breaks through the 

clo2cds. 
La pluie a perce tous mes 

habits, the rain has wetted 

me to the skin, 
Les OS lui percent la peau, he 

is nothing but skin and 

bone, 
Cela me perce le coeur, that 

breaks my heart, 

PERDRE, va. To lose; undo^ 
ruin; cast, spill, consume; 
debauch, corrupt (a person's 
manners). 

— son bien, to lose onis pro- 

perty. 

— la raison, I'esprit, la me- 

moire, to lose one's reason, 
understanding, memory. 

— quelqu'uu de reputation, to 

defame one. 

— courage, to be discouraged. 




IDIOMATIC VERBS. 



203 



Perdre la tete, to become de- 
ranged ; lose ail presence 
of mind ; he beheaded, 

— pied or terre, to find no 

bottom ; to be at a loss. 

— quelque chose de vue, to 

lose sight of a thing, 

— son proces, to be cast. 

— la file, to lose the row. 

Le cocher s'est laisse couper, 
et a perdu la file, the 
coachma7i had his line 
cut, and lost his row. 

Le nielle a perdu les bles, the 
corn is blasted. 

Fr. Marchand qui perd ne 
peut rire, let him laugh 
that wins. 

Fr. II joue a se perdre, he 
runs the risk of being 
undone. 

PORTER, va. To carry, bear, 
have about (one) ; wear ; 
carry, bear, or remove from 
(a place) ; convey ; bear, 
bring forth, produce, yield; 
contain; [fig.] bear, suffer, 
endure; induce, incite, move, 
persuade to, prevail upon, 
put to it, put upon, bias, 
instigate; [fig.] favour, pro- 
tect ; have, oneasure. 

— un fardeau, un sac, un 

ballot, to carry a burden, 
a sack, a bale. 

— sur le dos, sur les epaules, 

sur la tete, to carry on the 
bach, on the shoulders, on 
the head. 

— deux cents pesant, to carry 

two hundred-weight. 
*— un habit tout uni, to wear 
a plain suit of clothes. 



Porter des habits propres, to 
dress decently. 

— le deuil, to be in mourning. 

— I'epee, to wear a sword. 

— la tete haute, to carry one^s 

head aloft. 

— son pied en dehors or en 

dedans, to tread invjardly 
or outwardly. 

— bien ses bras en dansant, 

to have a graceful air with 
one^s arms in dancing. 

— ses regards or sa vue, to 

cast one^s eyes. 

— ses vues bien haut [fig.], to 

have great designs, or a 
great deal of ambition. 

— envie, to envy. 

— bonheur or malheur, to 

bring good or ill luck. 

— la parole, to be the speaker. 

— temoigneLge,to bear witness. 

— son jugement sur, to give 

one's opinion upon. 

— une sante, to toast. 

— les armes, to be a soldier. 

— les marques d'une blessure, 

to have still the marks of 
a wound. 

— une botte, to make a pass. 

— un coup a quelqu'un, to 

make a blow at one. 

— la main ^ Tepee, to lay on^s 

hand upon one's sword. 
Un tuyau qui porte de Teau 

dans le jardin, a pipe that 

conveys water into the 

garden. 
Ce sont eux qui I'ont porte h 

cela, 'twa.s they who put 

him to it. 
Cela porte son excuse avec soi, 

that carries its apology 

with it. 



204 



IDIOMATIC VERBS. 



Cela porte coup, that hits 
home. j 

II a plus d'affaires qu'il n'en ! 
peut porter, he has more 
business than he can ma- i 
nage. 

II ne la portera pas loin, Til \ 
soon make him pay for it. | 

Je le porte sur les epaules, he 
is quite tiresome to me. 

II en portera la peine, la folle 
enchere, he will smart for 
it. 

II porte la mine d'avoir fait 
cela, he looks as if he had 
done it. 

Demeurez ici a diner, vous 
voila tout porte, you had 
"better dine here, you are 
ready come. 

II est porte par la loi, it is 
ordered hy the law. 

Porter, vn. To hear., lean, 
rest, lie; say, state; [said 
of fire-arms, &c.] reach, 
carry, hear. 

Une poutre qui porte sur la 
muraille, a heam that 
hears upon the wall. 

Elle porte a faux, it does not 
hear steady. 

Le canon de la place ne saurait 
porter jusqu'ici, the can- 
non of the place cannot 
reach so far. 

Tons les coups ne portent 
pas, all the shot don't do 
execution. 

Un raisonnement qui porte a 
faux, an inconclusive ar- 
gument. 

Cet argument porte sur un 
principe faux, this argu- 
ment is Milt upon a false 
jjrinciple. 



SE PORTER, vr. To he, do 
(with regard to health) ; 
go or repiair to; tend, in- 
cline ; he inclined; he 
eager in a thing; hehave 
one's self. 

Comment vous portez-vous ? 
ho7v do you do ? 

So porter bien, to le well. 

— mieux, to he hetter. 

On s'y portait, people were 
one upon the other. 

II se porte au bien, he is well 
inclined. 

II s'est porte a cela de lui- 
meme, he took to that of 
himself 

II se porta a des violences ex- 
tremes, he ran himself 
into riot and violence. 

II se porte avec ardeur a tout 
ce qu'il fait, he ajjplies 
with eagerness to every- 
thing he does. 

II s'y est porte en homme de 
cceur, he hehaved on that 
occasion like a man of 
courage. 

Se porter en foule, to assemhle 
in ci'owds; throng tumtd- 
tuously. 

— pour appellant [law], to 

enter an appeal. 

— pour accusateur centre 

quelqu'un, to impeach 
one. 

— pour h^ritier, to claim a 

succession. 

POUSSER, m. To push, 
thrust, shove, jog, jostle; 
force, drive l)y impulse; 
drive hy a h'low, strike, 
throw; carry on, extend, 
enlarge, forward ; force to 



idio:m:atic teebs. 



205 



give way or Jly; imsh for- 
ward; promote, 'bring for- 
ward; iirej'er; urge, dinve ; 
discuss, examine; press for- 
ward; provolie. 
Pousser quelqu'un du coiicle, 
du genou [to warn one], 
to 7;2/.«A one witH tTie 
elhoiv, the knee, 

— la porte au nez de quel- 

qu'un, to prevent one en- 
tering a liouse hj sTiutting 
the door in his face. 

— un coup de fleuret, un coup 

d'epee a quelqu'un, to 
malie a pass at one with a 
foil or sword. 

— une botte, to give a thrust; 

insult ov press hard. 

— I'impudencejusqu'aubout, 

to carry things to the last 
extremity of impudence. 

— des cris, to scream out. 

— des cris de joie, to sfiout 

forjoy. 

— mille cris, to rend the air 

with shrieks. 

— des soupirs, to fetcli sighs. 

— quelqu'un a bout, to pro- 

vohe one. 
C'est son ami que le pousse a 

cela, it is his friend that 

sets him on that. 
II s'est pousse lui-meme dans 

le monde, he has pushed 

his way hj himself in the 

world. 
Pr. Pousser le temps avec 

I'epaule, to use delays, 

gain time. 

PRENDRE, va. To take; 
catch; seize, lay hold of; re- 
ceive; tahe^ S7V allow; under- 
stand; take, choose, employ; 



accept; steal; arrest, ap- 
jirehend. 
Prendre un cheval par la 
bride, un liomme par la 
main, to take a horse hy 
the hndle, a man hy his 
hand. 

— a la gorge, to seize hy the 

throat. 

— les armes, to take up> arms. 

— un morceau de pain, to eat 

a bit of bread. 

— un doigt de vin, to drink 

half a glass of wine. 

— du tabac, to tahe snujff-. 

— la fievre, to catch a fever. 

— medecine, to take physic. 

— une chose pour une autre, 

to mistake one thing for 
another. 

— conge de quelqu'un, to take 

leave of one. 

— la Yoie du messager, to go 

with the carrier. 

— la poste, to take post-horses, 

— les devans, to set out before 

one; [fig.] be beforehand 
with one. 

— bien son temps, to nick the 

time. 

— naissance, to be born. 

— perruque, to begin to wear 

a wig. 

— le bonnet de docteur, to 

take a doctors degree (in 
a university). 

— le deuil, to go into mourn- 

ing. 

— le parti de quelqu'un, to 

take ones part. 

— son parti, to come to a re- 

solution. 

— en mains les interets de 

quelqu'un, tj espouse a 
man's cause. 



206 



IDIOMATIC VERBS. 



Prendre fait et cause pour 
quelqu'un, to undertake 
one's defence. 

— • une chose a ses risques, to 
rim the hazard oj a tiling. 

— du poisson a la ligne, au 

filet, to catch Jish with a 
line., a net. 

— a interet, to horrow upon 

interest. 

— sur le fait, to catch in the 

very fact. 

— la droite, to tahe to the 

right hand. 

— ie pas sur quelqu'un, to 

tahe the precedence of one. 

— exemple sur une personne, 

to square one's conduct hy 
that of another, to go hy 
hint. 

— pied sur quelque cliose, to 

make a 'precedent of a 
thing. 

— terre, to land. 

— le large, to sail into the 

main sea; [fig.] tahe to 
one's heels. 

— sur son sommeil, to retrench 

one's sleep. 

— sur sanourrit lire, to abridge 

one's self of necessaries. 

— conseil de quelqu'un, to 

tahe one's advice. 

— les avis, to collect the votes. 
- feu, to catch fire. 

— feu or la mouche [fig.], to 

fly into a passion. 

— Tair, to tahe an airing. 

— Fair en voiture, to take a 

ride. 

— des airs, to give one's self 

airs. 

— langue, to get intelligence. 

— son mal en patience, to hear 

one'smisfortunespatiently. 



Prendre garde a soi, to look to 
one's self 

— un air riant, to 2J^^t on a 

smiling air. 

— a temoin, to call to witness, 

— un juge a par tie, to sue a 

judge for pfassing an un- 
just sentence* 

— la parole, to begin to speak, 

— jour et heure, to make an 

appointment. 

— une amitie, to conceive a 

frieiidship, 

— une cliose en bonne or 

mauvaise part, to take a 
thing well or ill, 

— une chose a la lettre, au 

pied de la lettre, to take 
a thing literally, 

— les choses h> la rigueur, to 

take thifigs in the strictest 
vianner. 

— les choses de travers, a cen- 

tre- sens, to take things 
the wrong way, in a had 
sense, 

— bien or mal une affaire, to 

go the right or wrong way 
to work in a business, 

— serieusement une chose, to 

take a thing in earnest. 

— une chose en riant, to take 

a thing in jest. 

— \di.hoxmQYoiQjto follow good 

courses, 

— forme, to come into shape, 

— le change, to be mistaken, 

— un homme pour dupe, to 

bithble one, 

— Toccasion aux cheveux, to 

seize the opportunity by 
the forelock. 
Je ne sais comment le — , / do 
not know how to manage 
him. 



IDIOMATIC VEBBS. 



207 



II le prit au collet, he seized 
Mm l)y his collar. 

II me pre n ait par mon propre 
interet, 7}iy own intei^est 
was the arrjument he viade 
nse of. 

Prenez garde qu'on vous fasse 
tort, take care of heing 
wronged. 

Yous prenez rnal mes paroles, 
you mistake or mi scon- 
true my words. 

II a bien pris ce qu'on lui a dit 
de votre part, he has put a 
right const rnctiomq)on the 
message you sent to him. 

En le prenaut siir ce ton la, 
vous m'interessez a vous 
servir, since you talk in 
that sty le^ I feel interested 
in your hehalf. 

A tout prendre, take all to- 
gether. 

II en a pris sa bonne part, he 
has had Ms full share of 
it. 

Les chevaux ont pris le mors 
aux dents, the horses have 
run away. 

II a pris la nevre de son frere, 
he caught the fever from 
Ms brother. 

II me prit un saignement de 
nez, my nose fell a-Meed- 
ing. 

Si la curiosite me prend d'y 
aller, if curiosity lorompts 
me to go thither, 

II prend pour argent comptant 
toutes les nouvelles qu'on 
debite, he takes for gospel 
all the neivs that are cur- 
rent. 

Je prends cela sur moi, I take 
it upon myself. 



II lui fallut prendre beaucoup 
sur lui pour se defaire de 
sa ip2iSsion,itwasnot7vith- 
out a great struggle that 
he conquered Ms passion, 

Je vous y prends, I catch you 
at it. 

Fr, Prendre quelqu'un sans 
vert, to take one napping, 

Pr. — martre pour renard, or 
— Paris pour Corbeil, to 
take Turnham-green for 
London, or to he guilty oj 
a great mistake. 

Fr. C'est vouloir — la lune 
avec les dents, it is aim- 
ing at impossibilities. 

Fr. II semble qu'il n'y ait qu'a 
se baisser et en — , one 
would think it was as easy 
as kissing one's hand. 

Prendre, vn. To take or strike 
root, or to strike; succeed, 
catch, seize on ; freeze ; 
coagulate ; [said of iire,] 
h^eak out. 

Get ouvrage n'a pas pris, that 
performance did not suc- 
ceed. 

Ce ragout est si epice qu'il 
prend a la gorge, that 
ragout is so Mgh-seasoiied 
that it hums the throat. 

S'il ne se corrige, il lui en 
prendra mal, if he does 
not mend, evil will hetide 
him: 

A tout prendre, ilest innocent, 
upon the whole he is not 
guilty. 

Si le . froid dure encore deux 
jours, la riviere prendra, 
if the cold lasts two days 
longer, the river will he 
frozen. 



208 



IDIOMATIC VERBS. 



Pour que le kit prenne, il faut 
. . ., to make the milk 
curdle, one must .... 

Le feu ]3rit hier a son magasin, 
yesterday afire Irolie out 
in his shop! 

SE — , vr. To be taken, be 
caught; take hold, cling, 
&c. ; freeze, coagulate; 
thicken ; catch at. 

L'huile se prend quand on la 
tient en lieu frais, oil 
coagulates when kejJt in a 
cool 'place. 

II s'est pris a un clou, he was 
hooked by a nail. 

Se prendre d'amitie, to take 
^ liking to. 
- de vin, to get drunk. 

— de paroles, to quarrel. 

II se prit a rire, he began 
laughing. 

De la maniere dont il s'y 
prend, as he manages 
matters. 

Comme il s'y prend I how he 
goes about it! 

Void comme il s'y prit, this 
is the method he took. 

S'il y a du mal, prenez-vous- 
en a vous memo, if any 
thing be amiss, you may 
thank yourself for it. 

On ob tient tout de moi, quand 
on s'y prend de la bonne 
fa^on, everything may be 
obtained from me, when 
people take the right me- 
thod. 

II s'en prit a moi, he taxed 
me with it. 

S'il ne me paie pas, je m'en 
prendrai a vous, if he 
don't settle with me, I 
shall come upon you. 



PEETENDRE, va. and n. To 
insist on, require; claim; 
aim at a palace, stand for it; 
maintain, contend; intend, 
mean, design. 
Je pretends un dixieme, I 

claim a tenth part. 
11 pretend a cette charge, he 

stands for that office. 
II — que I'ancienne philoso- 
phie est la meilleure, he 
maintains that the ancient 
system of philosophy is 
the best. 
A ce qu'on — , as rejjort goes. 
Je pretends faire ce voyage, / 

intend to take that trip. 
J'ai pr6tendu badiner, I only 
meant it as a joke. 

PEOFITEK, vn. To 'profit, 
gain ; improve, malic a pro- 
gress, thrive ; avail one's 
self, take advantage. 

— sur des marchandises, to 

make a profit by the sale 
of goods. 

— beaucoup a un marche, to 

gain mucli by a bargain. 

— de r occasion, to improve 

the opportunity. 

— en vertu, to improve in 

virtue. 
Je vous conseille d'en — , I 

advise you to make the 

best of it. 
Son argent ne lui profite point, 

his money lies dead. 
Les biens mal acquis ne pro- 

fitent point, 'ill-gottcn 

goods never prosper. 
II a beaucoup profite avec son 

precepteur, he has made 

great im2)rovcwait with 

his preceptor. 



IDIOMATIC VEEBS. 



209 



Get enfant profite a vue d'oeil, 
that child thrives visibly. 

SE PKOMENER, vr. To 
take a walk. 

— a cheval, to ride on horse- 

lack, 

— en voiture, to tahe an air- 

ing in a carriage. 

— en bateau or sur Teau, to 

have an excursion in a 
"boat. 

— dans les rues, to walk in 

the streets. 

Pr. Envoyer quelqu'un pro- 
mener [se is understood], 
to send one about his busi- 
ness. 

Pr. Qu'ils s'aillepromener,Z^^ 
him go and be hanged. 

PKOMENER, va. To walk, 
lead about for the sake of 
air or exercise. 

— un enfant, to take a child 

out. 
II les a bien promenes par la 
ville, he has led them all 
over the town. 

— sa vue sur plusieurs objets 

[fig.], to carry one's sight 
from one object to another. 

QUITTER, va. To quit, aban- 
don, go from, jpart with; 
leave, pull off, cast off'; put 
away or aside; forsake; 
resign, give up, give over ; 
renounce, waive ; vacate 
(obligations) ; set free, ex- 
cuse; exempt; come offfrom; 
let go. 

— sa femme, son pays, to for- 

sake one^s wife, leave one^s 
country. 



Quitter ses habits, ses gants, 
son cbapeau, &;c., to pull 
off' one^s clothes, gloves, 
hat, S^c. 

— prise, to let go one's hold. 

— une entreprise, to give over 

an enterprise. 

— l2ii[>2iYtie,to give 2tp the ga7?ie. 
Je suis outre d'unlivre que je 

viens de — , I am out of 
all patience ovith a book 
I have just put away. 

J'aime mieux — que de dis- 
puter, I rather choose to 
give up than to dispute. 

Je vous tiens quitte de tout 
ce que vous me devez, I 
forgive you all that you 
owe me. 

Je vous tiens quitte de tous 
vos compliments,ybr&mr 
all your compliments. 

REFUSER, va. To refuse, 
deny; reject. 

— la porte a quelqu'un, to 

deny one admittance. 

— une fille en mariage, to re- 

fuse to marry a girl. 

Se — quelque chose, to deny 
one's self a thing. 

Se — aux plaisirs, to shun all 
manner of diversion. 

Se — a quelque chose, to ob- 
ject to a thing. 

II se refuse le necessaire, he 
denies himself the neces- 
saries of life. 

II ne se — rien, he thifiks no- 
thing too good for himself. 

Les circonstances s'y refusent, 
circumstances are against 

II ne s'y refuse pas, he has no 
objection to it. 



210 



IDIOMATIC VERBS. 



II refuse ses meilleurs amis, 
he resists his best friends. 
Pr. Qui refuse, muse. 

He that will not ichen he may, 
WJien he fain would, shall have nay. 



REGAEDER, m. and n. To 

looh on or upon; behold, see; 
[fig.] examine, observe, con- 
sider ; take heed or notice ; 
have a care ; [fig.] concern, 
belong to ; face, front, stand 
opposite to or over-against. 

— quelqu'uu, to look a.t one. 

— quelqu'un du haut en has, 

to look iipon one with 
contempt. 

— fixement, to stare at, look 

fixedly upon. 

— de pres, to be strict, too 

strict, or punctilious. 
II ne faut j^as — , y — , apr^s 
lui, he ivants no looking 
after. 

— de pres a quelque chose, 

to look narrowly into a 
thing. 

II ne faut pas y — de si pres, 
you must not be so very 
particular. 

C'est un homme avec qui il 
n'y faut pas — de si pres, 
he is a man that we must 
not be sharp upon. 

On le regarde comme un de 
nos meilleurs ecrivains, 
he is looked upon as one 
of our best writers, 

Faites tout ce qu'il vous plaira, 
cela ne me regarde pas, 
do whatever you please, it 
does not concern me. 

Elle passe ses jours a se re- 
garder au miroir, she is 



for ever peeping at the 

looking-glass. 
Dieu les a regarde en pitie, 

God has cast a merciful 

eye upon them, 
Cette maison regarde I'orient, 

that house fronts the east. 
Ma cbambre regarde sur le 

jardin, my room overlooks 

the garden. 
Pr. Un chien regarde bien un 

eveque, a cat may look at 

a king, 

REMETTRE, va. To put, 
plaxe,lay, ov set again; give 
back,restore ; deliver up; re- 
cover, Quake well; set (a bone), 
put (it) into joint again; put 
off, defer, delay, prolong; 
hearten, spirit again, remove 
one's fear ; remit, forgive (a 
debt); reinstate, re-esta- 
blish; put into (one's) hands^ 
or commit to (him), intrust 
(him) with ; remit, make re- 
mittances ; se7id, give ; re- 
collect; [in some games] 
begin again ; draw a game. 

— son epee dans le fourreau, 

to put up one's sword. 

— quelqu'un, to recollect one's 

face. 

— une lettre, to deliver a 

letter. 

— d'un jour a I'autre, to pro- 

crastinate ; dilly-dally. 

— ^ la voile, to set sail again. 

— en appetit, to get one a good 

stomach. 

— dans le droit chemin, to 

bring one iiito the right 
way, 

— bien ensemble, to reconcile. 

— en possession, to re-instal. 



rDio:jj:ATic yeebs. 



211 



On lui remit devant les yeux 
les dernieres volontes de 
son p^re, they recalled to 
his mind his father'' s last 
will. 

On Pa remis dans tons ses 
biens, he has been restored 
to all his estates. 

On lui a remis le bras, his arm 
has been put into joint 
again. 

Le Yoila tout-a-fait remis de 
sa maladie, he is quite re- 
covered from his illness. 

La partie est remise [at chess, 
&c.], it is a drawn game. 

La cause est — , the trial is 
'postponed. 

On a remis la partie a demain, 
the "party has been de- j 
f erred till to-morrow. I 

Je remets tons mes interets | 
entre vos mains, 1 corn- i 
mit all my concerns to ! 
your care, 

SE EEMETTRE, ^cr. To re- 
cover., grow ivell again, be on 
the mending hand; recover 
one*s self, come to on^s self 
again; compose one's self 
again ; set one's self again, 
fcdl again to ; recollect (a 
thing), rerne7nber (it), call 
(it) to mind, 

— au travail, to set one's self 

again to work. 

— en mer, to go to sea again. 

— d'une perte, to retrieve 

one's loss. 

— de queique chose a quel- 

qu'un [or more com- 
monly], s'en remettre ^ 
quelqu'un,^c?7'e/c;' a thing 
to one. 



II s'est remis a jouer, he has 

begun to game again. 
II se remit a fair plus fort 

qu'auparavant, he betook 

himself to a speedier flight 

tha/n before. 
Remettez-vous, de grace, for 

heaven's sake, compose 

yourself. 
Remettez-vous, as you ■were, 
Le temps s'est remis au beau, 

it is fair weather again. 

REMONTER, va. To go, or 
get up agoAn ; raAse, lift up, 
set higher ; make up agoAn. 

— un metier, to set a frame 

up agoAn. 

— une ferme, to stock a fa.rm 

anev:. 

— une maison de meubles, to 

neiu furnish a house. 

— la riviere, to go up the river, 

sail up the river, 

— un instrument de musique, 

to neio string a musical 
instrument. 

— la tete a quelqu'un [fig.], 

to restore one to reason, 
sound principles, d:c. 

— des bottes, to put on a. pair 

of soles to a pair of boots. 

— une montre, un tourne- 

broche, to enable a watch, 
a jack, to go on. 
Remonter, vn. Togo, come, or 
get up again ; run baxk , 
run up ; ascend towa.rds. 

— a cheval, to get on horse- 

back again. 

— a la source, a I'origine, ^ la 

cause, au principe d'une 
chose, to trace a thing 
back to its first cause. 
origin, or principle. 



212 



IDIOMATIC VERBS. 



II faut remonter plus haut, 
%ve micst trace the thing 
up higher, 

Cette maison remonte jusqu'a 
Charlemagne, that family 
may he traced hack to the 
days of Charlemagne, 

II est mort d'une goutte re- 
in ontee, he died of the 
gout in his stomach. 

EENDRE, va. To restore, 
give hacTc again, return, 
render; give ov pay hack ; 
yield, hear, produce ; give 
up, deliver, surrender ; 
turn, translate ; represent, 
express ; vomit, cast up; 
void; malce; repeat, return; 
exhale; imitate (one). 

— des marchandises en un 

endroit, to deliver mer- 
chandise, or goods, at a 
place. 

— compte, to give an account. 

— un arret, to make a decree. 

— une sentence, to pass sen- 

tence. 

— temoignage, to testify. 

— reponse ^, to reply. 

— une place, to surrender a 

place. 

— la pareille, le reciproque, le 

change, le bien or le mal, 
injure pour injure, to re- 
taliate, make a return. 

— ses respects, ses devoirs a 

quelqu'un, to pay one's 
duty to one, render him 
one's devoirs. 

— visit e, to pay a visit. 

— ses visit es, to return visits. 

— un beau son, to sound well. 

— la justice, to render or ad- 

minister ju^stice. 



Eendre justice a quelqu'un, 

to do one justice. 

— la sante, to restore one's 

health. 

— graces, to give or return 

thanks. 

— Tame, l^esprit or les der- 

niers soupirs, to give up 
the ghost, expire, 

— raison de sa conduite, to 

give an account of one^s 
conduct. 

— un passage mot ^ mot, to 

render or translate a pas- 
sage word hy word, 

— a quelqu'un sa parole, to 

disengage one from his 
promise. 

— le reste d'un souverain, to 

give the change of a sove- 
reign, 

J'ai rendu le paquet a son 
adresse, / have delivered 
the parcel according to 
its direction. 

Montez dans ma voiture, dans 
deux heures je vous ren- 
drai la, step into my car- 
riage, in two hours Fll 
set you down there. 

Ce remade lui a rendu la 
vie, that remedy saved his 
life, 

L' experience I'a rendu sage, 
experience has taught him 
wisdom, 

Les traits du visage ne sont 
pas bien rendus, the fea- 
tures of the face are not 
well expressed. 

II ne vous a pas bien rendu ce 
que je I'avais charg6 de 
vous dire, he has not de- 
livered faithfully to you 
the message I sent hy him. 



IDIOMATIC VEEBS. 



213 



Fr, II faut rendre a Cesar ce 
qui est a Cesar, give unto 
Caesar what belongs to 
Ccesar, 

Rendre, vn. To lead^ go, 

Ge chemin rend a un village, 
this way leads to a village. 

SE — , vr. To render or make 
one^s self; become, turn; 
go J repair; yield, submit, 
surrender; be spent; [said 
of rivers,] fall or run 
into, 

— Protestant, to turn Pro- 

testant. 

— a son devoir, to go where 

one^s duty calls one ; re- 
form, 

II se rendra a Paris un tel 
jour, he will repair to 
Paris on such a day, 

II ne se rend jamais, he never 
oivns himself in the wrong. 

Ce cheval se — , that horse is 
knocked up, 

Les fleuves se rendent a la 
mer, large rivers run 
into the sea, 

Je me rends, I yield ovgive up. 

Je me rends a vos raisons, / 
yield to your arguments. 

EENTEER, m To come, get, 
or go in again; re-enter, 
enter again; repay, laahe 
returns ; retouch, 

— dans les bonnes graces de 

quelqu'un, to get again 
into onds favour. 

— dans le devoir, to return 

to one's duty. 

— en soi-meme, to reflect 

seriously, 

— en son bon sens, to come to 

one^s senses again. 



Faire rentrer un bomme dans 
son neant, to put a man 
in mind of his own in- 
significance. 

Je lui ferai — les paroles dans 
la boucbe, 1 will make 
him eat his own words, 

II m'est rentre beau jeu, 1 
have taken in fine cards. 

REPONDRE, m. To answer, 
make an answer. 

— la messe, a la messe, to 

assist the priest at mass, 

— un placet, to subscribe or 

answer a petition, 
II m'a repondu une sottise, he 

said an abusive thing to 

me in answer. 
Je vous en reponds, you may 

be sure of that, I warrant 

you. 

REPONDRE, ^;^. To answer, 
reply ; make, write or give 
an answer; confute] answer, 
equal, be answerable ; solve 
(a difficulty) ; lead; corre- 
spond, make a suitable re- 
turn; be over-against ; be 
security for, vjarrant, be 
bound to make good ; speak 
in opposition, be a resjjon- 
dent ; give an account to ; 
reach as far; [in speaking 
of an ecboj repeat, re- 
sound. 

— a notre attente, to answer 

our expectation. 

N'y pas — ; y — mal, to fall 
short of it. 

Tout repond a nos voeux, 
everything succeeds ac- 
cording to our wishes. 

Je ne veux point d'un valet 



214 



IDIOMATIC YEEBS. 



qui repond, I do not want 
a servant who argues or 
retorts, 

II a repondu a toutes les ob- 
jections qu'on liii a faites, 
he answered all the objec- 
tions that were made to 
him. 

Deux choeurs de musique qui 
se r6pondent, tioo choirs 
of music, that sing alter- 
nately. 

II s'est blesse au coude, et la 
douleur lui repond au 
petit doigt, he has hurt 
his elbow, and he feels the 
"pain at his little finger. 

II y a un chemin sous terre 
qui repond dans la foret, 
there is a subterraneous 
road that leads into the 
forest. 

Oes allees repondent a un 
canal, these walJcs lead to 
a canal. 

Ce cheval ne repond pas a 
I'eperon, this horse does 
not mind the spur. 

Pr. — en Normand, not to 
give a direct answer. 

Pr. Qui repond paye, the bail 
must pay. 

EEVENIR, ^n. To come 
again, come bacJc, return; 
appear again ; grow again; 
grov) wp again, shoot again ; 
change or alter one's opi- 
nion ; take a dislike to ; be 
weaned from, be cured of, be 
out of conceit with, be off 
with; forgive, be appeased 
or reconciled, be friends 
again; suit, match; please; 
come over to; be reduced ; 



arise, accrue, result; re- 
cover, recover one's self ; rise 
up in one's stomach; please; 
come, amount to; cost, stand 
in; be reduced to; appear or 
walk (as spirits do); recol- 
lect ; hear, he informed. 
Kevenir ^ la charge, to reite- 
rate one's reasons, en- 
treaties, (he. 

— d'uiie maladie, to recover 

from a fit of illness. 

— a soi, to come to one's self 

again. 

— sur I'eau, to recover one's 



Ne pas revenir de . . ., to 
wonder at . . ., be as- 
tonished at . . . 

Je n'en reviens pas, I am as- 
tounded at it. 

Get habit revient a tant, that 
coat amounts to so much. 

II ne m'en revient rien, I get 
nothing by it, 

Combien m'en reviendra-t-il? 
how many will fall to 
my share? 

Le vin fait revenir le cceur, 
wine cheers the heart. 

II ne revient jamais, he cannot 
be persuaded. 

Eevenir de ses prejuges, to 
shake off one' s prejudices. 

— de ses folies, to leave off 

one's old pranks. 

— a Favis des autres, to come 

over to the opinion of 

others. 
J'etais alors revenu des 

louanges, / was at that 

time cured of my vanity. 
Son humeur ne me revient 

pas, his humoiir don't 

suit my taste. . 



IDIOI^IATIC VEEBS. 



215 



Son Dom ne me revient pas, 
/ cannot recollect Ms 
name at present. 

Sa figure me revenait, 1 liked 
his appearance, 

II me revient de toutes parts 
que vous vous plaignez 
de moi, everybody tells or 
informs me that you com- 
plain of me. 

Cela me revient toujours dans 
r esprit, that ever runs in 
my mind, 

II revient des esprits dans 
cette maison, that house 
is haunted, 

Faire revenir de la viande, to 
parboil meat, 

Pr, A tout bon compte re- 
venir, errors are excepted^. 

Pr, — a ses moutons, to re- 
turn to one's favourite 
topic, 

EIRE, vn. To laugh; laugh 

at (one) ; be merry ; jest, 

joke, he in jest ; smile, look 

pleasant ; [fig.] despise, not 

to cam for, 

Eclater de rire, etouffer or 

crever de — , to burst out 

with laughing. 

— a gorge deploy ee, to laugh 

as if it were for a vjager, 

— dans sa barbe or sous cape, 

to laugh in one''s sleeve. 

— au nez de quelqu'un, to 

laugh in one's face, 

— du bout des dents, ne — 

que du bout des levres, to 
laugh when one has a mind 
to cry, 
Se chatouiller pour se faire 
— , to do all that one can 
to laugh. 



j Yous me faites — , your pro- 

' posal is nonsense, 

Appr^ter a rire, to make one's 
self a laughing - stock, 
make sport. ] 

Avoir le mot pour — , to be 
full of jokes. 

Tout en riant, il lui a dit de 
bonnes verites, though in 
a joke, he told him plain 
truths. 

Tout lui rit, fortune smiles 
upon him, 

Je le disais pour rire, 1 spoke 
itin jest or. out of fun, 

Pr. Pincer sans — , to banter 
with a serious face, 

Pr. Et de rire, and they be- 
gan laughing. 

Pr. Marchand qui perd ne 
pent — , let them laugh 
that win. 

Pr, Rira bien qui rira le der- 
nier, all is well that ends 
well. 

SAYOIR, va. To know, un- 
derstand; have knowledge 
of, he informed; he able, 
have skill, be skilled; know, 
have in onemory; know how, 
Faire — , to notify, inform. 
II n'en sait rien, he knows no- 
thing of it'. 
Tout se sait, everything is 

known. 
\ Je ne sache rien de si beau, / 
I know nothing so fine. 

Personne que je sache, nobody 

that I know of, 
Un je ne sais quoi, un certain 
je ne sais quoi [an inex- 
pressible something], a je 
ne sais quoi, something I 
do not knoxo what. 



216 



IDIOMATIC VERBS. 



II sait travailler, he knows how 

to work. 
II sait mieux qu'il ne dit, he 

hnows thinrjs tetter. 
Savoir vivre, to hnom how to 

hehave. I 

Savoir gre, bon gre ^ quel- ' 

qu'un, to take it well or j 

kindly of one. 

— mauvais gre a une per- \ 

Sonne, to take it ill or un- | 
kindly oj a jjerson. | 

— de bonne part, to have from \ 

good hands. \ 

II se sait bon gre d'avoir fait : 
une telle action, he is 
pleased with himself for 
having done such an ac- 
tion. 

Je lui en sais le meilleur gre 
du monde, / am highly 
pleased with him for it. 

Je ne saurais, I cannot. 

Je ne sais qu'en croire, I know 
not what to think of it. 

Sachez que cela n'est pas, as- 
sure yourself that it is 
not so. 

Si Ton vient a savoir cela, if 
that comes to tie known. 

Je ne puis, o?' je ne saurais qu'y 
faire, / cannot help it. 

Je ne sais oii j'en suis, I know 
not which way to tnrn 
myself. 

Que sait-on % who knows f 

Pr. II sait le fin du fin, he is 
acquainted with the most 
secret S2:)rings of affairs. 

Fr, II sait la carte du pays, 
or simply la carte, he is 
well acquainted with 
every particular. 

SORTIE, vn. To come, go, 



get or step out; issue or come 
out; get off, come off, free 
one's self from; march out, 
go al)road; jut out; issue, 
proceed (as an offspring) ; 
come out, shoot out; hreak 
out; exhale ; come forth, 
spring, he horn. 

Soitir de la ehambre, to go or 
r<tep out of the room. 

— dex' risen, to get out of prison, 

— de la vie, to die. 

— du port, to depart from a 

harlwur. 

— de I'enfance, to come out of 

infancy. 

— de rhiver, to get out of 

winter. 

— d'apprentissage, to have 

served one's time. 

— de maladie, to recover from 

a fit of illness. 

— d'un mauvais pas, to get 

out of a scrape. 

— de son devoir, to deviate 

from one's duty. 

— de minorite, to hecome of 

age. 

— de condition, to come out 

of service. 

— de son sujet, to wander 

jrom one's subject. 

— des bornes de la bien- 

seance, to go leyond the 
hounds of decency. 
' — de cadence, to dance out of 
time. 

— de mesure, si7ig out oJ time. 
II vient de — , he is just gone 

out. 
II a sorti ce matin, he went 

out this morning. 
Faire sortir un bomme de 

prison, to get a man out 

of prison. 



IDIOMATIC VERBS. 



217 



Faire sortir du feu d'une 
pierre, to strilie Jire out 
of a stone, 

Faire — quelqu'un des gonds, 
to make one Jiy into a 
violent passion. 

Ce jeune homme sort du col- 
lege, this young man has 
just left school. 

L'ouvrage sort de chez I'ou- 
vrier, des mains de I'ou- 
vrier, the worh is just 
come out of the artist's 
hands, 

Les yeux lui sortent de la 
tete, his eyes stick out of 
his head. 

II en est sorti a son honaeur, 
he came off honourably. 

La riviere est sortie de son lit, 
the river has overflowed 
its hanks, 

SOUFFLER, ^^. To Uo7V; 
S7vell, jnff'into size; v flame 
with wind ; warm with the 
hreath ; form into shape hj 
hloiving; sound (a wind-in- 
strument of music) ; Mow 
out^ jmt out, extinguish; 
yrompt (one) ; of\ huff' (at 
draughts); deprive of; whis- 
per^ tell in (one's) ear. 

Souffler le feu, to Moiv the fire. 

— ime chandelle, to Mow out 

a candle. 

— la discorde, le feu de la dis- 

corde, la division, &c. 
[fig.], to sow dvissension. 

— quelqu'un, to prompt one, 

whisper him what he is to 
speaU. 

— un emploi, une charge a 

quelqu'uD, to deprive one 
of a place^ supplant him. 



Qui vous a souffle cela ? who 

'put you upon it? 
II souffle les comediens, he is 

a 'prompter. 
Pr. Souffler le chaud et le 

froid, to Mow hot and cold, 

speak for and against. 

TENDEE, va. To hend, l)ow; 
stretch out, reach out, 

— un arc, to lend a low. 

— un piege, to lay a snare. 

— des filets aux oiseaux, to 

spread a net or nets to 
catch lirds. 

— une souriciere, to set a 

mouse-trap. 

— un lit, to set up a led. 

— une tente, to pitch a tent, 

— une tapisserie, to hang up 

a suit oj hangings. 

— une chambre de deuil, to 

hang a chamler in mourn- 
ing. 

— son chapeau pour demander 

quelque chose^ to hold 
one^s hat to leg something. 

— les bras a quelqu'un pour 

I'embrasser, to open one's 
arms to emir ace a person. 

— les mains au ciel, to lift up 

one's hands to heaven, 

— les bras a quelqu'un dans 

sa misere [fig.], to lend 
one a helping hand. 

— les mains a quelqu'un, to 

implore one's assistance. 
Tendre, vn. To tend, go to ; 
tend, contrilute; tend, le 
directed to ; hang a place 
ivith tapestry. 

— a la perfection, to aim at 

perfection. 

— aux becasses, to spread nets 

for catching woodcocks. 



218 



IDIOMATIC VERBS. 



Ou tendent vos pas? ovliicTi 
way do you steer your 
course ? 

Je sais ou tend votre dis- 
cours, Ihiorv the drift of 
your discourse. 

C'est un homme qui tend ^ ses 
fins, lie is a man that never 
loses sight of his interest. 

TENIR, va. To hold, la/y hold 
of; have hold of; possess, he 
2yossessed of enjoy; tahe iqj; 
ocGiqjy; grijoefast; stojp, hin- 
der; consume, spend; not to 
let run out; ^preserve; heep, 
maintain, sujjport; helieve, ^ 
look upon; contain; heep (in 
any state) ; heep, detain, 
take up. 

— quelqu'iin a la gorge, to 

throttle one, tahe him hy 
the nech. 

— quelqu'un a la gorge, le 

pied sur la gorge a quel- 
qu'un, le poignard sur la 
gorge a quelqu'un [fig.]i 
to hold a dagger to one^s 
throat, force one to a 
thing. 

— quelqu'un sur le tapis, to 

malie one the subject of 
conversation. 

— un enfant sur les fonts de 

bapteme, to stand god- 
father or god-mother to a 
child. 

— quelqu'un le bee dans I'eau 

[fig.], to amtise one with 
fair promises. 

— tine nouvelle de quelqu'un, 

to have a piece of news 
from one. 

— \>ovit\(i\}ie,tol)eashopheeper, 

keep a shop. 



Tenir une chose secrete, not 
to speak of an affair. 

— la vie de quelqu'un, to hold 

one^s lije oj one, owe it to 
him. 

— quelqu'un par les cordons, 

or par les lisi^res, to have 
one in leading-strings. 

— le de dans Ja conversation, 

to engross all the conver- 
sation, 

— sa parti e [mus.], to sing 

oneh part, 

— des ecoliers en pension, to 

keep a Itoarding-school. 

— la tete droite, to hold up 

one^s head. 

— les yeux baisses, to keep 

one's eyes down, 

— sa promesse, to keep one's 

word. 

— menage, to he a house- 

keeper. 

— table ouverte, to keep an 

open tal)le. 

— une bonne or mauvaise 

conduite, to follow good 
or l)ad courses. 

— le parti de quelqu'un, to 

follow one's party, side 
with him, 

— sa gravite, to keep xip one's 

gravity. 

— lieu de pere, to act like a 

father. 
■ — lieuderecompense,j^(? se7've 
instead of a reward. 

— le timon des afiaires, to 

govern the state, S^c. 

— quelqu'un de court, to keep 

a strict hand over one. 

— les livres, to keep a mer- 

chant's or l)ankefs dooks, 
he a hook-keeper. 

— les livres en partie double, 



IDIO^vIATIC VERBS. 



219 



to liee'p hooks after the 
Italian method, or ly 
douUe entry. 
Tenir la caisse, to lieep tJie 
cash-book. 

— tete a quelqu'un, to co^c 

with one. 

— la main a quelque chose, 

to take care of a thing, 
look to it. 

— quelque chose dans sa 

manche [fig.], to he cock- 
sure of a thing. 

— en bride [fig.], to keep tin- 

der. 

— une route, to follow a way. 
Je tiens le voleur, / have got 

hold of the thief. 
Tenez, voila ce que je vous 

dois, here, take what I 

owe you. 
Tenez, le voila qui passe, see, 

now he is going hy the 

door, S^c. 
II a beau faire ^ present, jele 

tiens, he may do what he 

will, now I have or hold 

him fast. 
Tout ce qu'il a, il le tient de 

votre liberalite, he holds 

all that he has from your 

generosity. 
II y a long-temps que la fievre 

le tient, the fever has heen 

long upon him. 
Quand son acces le — , when 

the Jit is uyon Mm,. 
Sa belle humeur le — , he is 

in a good Mimour. 
Qu*a-t-il 1 qu'est-ce qui le — ? 

what is the matter with 

him ? 
L'arm6e — la camx3agne, the 

army keeps the field, or 

^5 in the field. 



II — bien song rang, he keeps 
up or maintains his rank. 

Un muid doit tenir tant de 
litres, a hogshead must 
hold so many litres. 

Ce seau tient bien Teau, that 
l)iicket is very tight. 

Je ne vous tiendrai guere, 1 
won't detain or keep you 
long. 

Je tiens cela pour certain, I 
hold that for a certainty. 

Je le — honnete homme, pour 
honnete bomme, I look 
lip on him as an honest 
7a an. 

Je me tiens beureux d'avoir 

. pu vous servir en quelque 

chose, I account myself 

happy in having heen atle 

to serve you in something. 

Tenez-vous pour dit que . . ., 
you may assure yourself 
that . . . 

Tel fut le discours qu'eile me 
tint, such was her dis- 
course. 

Faire tenir de I'argent, des 
lettres, to remit money, 
convey letters. 

TENIE, vn. To hold, resist, 
withstand ; he kept in force ; 
stick; he fast ov firm ; he 
contiguous, close or adjoin- 
ing ; stand for, side with ; 
he held or contained; he 
held, sit, he sitting; he 
pawned, or he in pawn for. 

— de son pere et de sa mere, 

to take after one's father 
and mother, or resemUe 
them. 

— ferme, to hold or hold out, 

stand or stand out. 



220 



IDIOMATIC VERBS. 



Les ennemis ne tiendront pas, 
the enemy won't keep their 
ground or i^osition. 

Je ne puis plus tenir centre 
votre douleur, I am not 
proof against your sorrow. 

II ne tient point contre I'in- 
teret, contre I'argent, he 
is entirely swayed l)y in- 
terest ; he is not proof 
against money. 

Je Texhortai a tenir bon, I en- 
coiiraged him to persevere. 

II faut que le traite tienne, 
the treaty must Ije kept in 
force. 

II tient a ce parti-la par des 
raisons de famille, he is 
tied to that party or in- 
terest ly family consider- 
ations. 

II or elle ne — point aux ap- 
point ements, salary is no 
ol)ject to him or to her 
(alluding to a clerk, a 
teacher, governess, &c.). 

Le temps ne tiendra pas, the 
weather won't hold out. 

Ce clou tient trop, this nail 
holds too fast. 

II en — , or il en a dans I'aile, 
he is caught; he is smitten. 

Ses pierreries tiennent pour 
mille ecus, her jewels are 
prawned, or in pawn, for 
1000 crowns. 

L'injure qu'il a re^ue lui tient 
au cosur, the affront sticks 
iyi his stomach. 

Celui qui ne — a rien, he who 
has no connexions. 

Je ne sais a quoi cela — , I 
know not where it sticks. 

S'il ne — qu'a donner dix 
souverains, je les don- 



nerai, if nothing is want- 
ing iut ten sovereigns, I 
will lay down the money. 

II ne tient qu'a vous de le faire, 
it is in your power to do it. 

II ne tiendra pas a moi que 
. . ., it will not 1)6 my 
fault if . . . 

Ma maison tient a la sienne, 
my house is contiguous to 
his. 

II n'y a ni parente, ni amitie, 
qui tienne, no ties ofUood 
ov friendship can hinder it, 

A qui tient-il que cela ne se 
fasse ? 7vho hinders the 
thing from Ijeing done ? 

Pr. Un tiens vaut mieux que 
deux tu r auras, a dird in 
hand is worth two in the 
hush. 

SE — , vr. To lay hold, hold 
fast ; stick, adhere ; keep 
or remain in (any place 
or state) ; l)e contiguous, 
lie close together; hang 
upon one another; Ve kept 
or held ; Relieve or think 
one's self 

— de, toforlear. 

— bien a cbeval, to sit fast or 

well on hor§el)ack. 
' — a son mot, to stand to one's 
word, have l)ut one word. 

— a peu, a peu de chose, a 

une vetille, or simjjly, a 
rien, to stand upon a 
small matter or trifle. 

— en ambuscade, to lie in 

amhish. 

— cache, to keep out of the way. 

— sur ses gardes, to stand 

upon one's guard. 

— droit, stand straight or up- 

right. 



IDIOMATIC YEEBS. 



221 



Se tenir a ne rien faire, to 
stand doing nothing. 

— a genoux, to be upon one's 

knees, 

— toujours propre, to go al- 

ways neat. 

— les bras croises, to sitivitli 

one's arms across. 
II se tint a une branclie, he 
laid liold of a hranch, 

S'en tenir a, to ahide hj. 
Je m'y tiens [at cards]; I 
stand. 

Je me coucliai sans savoir a 
quoi je devais ni'en tenir, 
I went to led without 
Iniowing wliat to tJiinh of\ 
the matter. 

Je m'en tiens a votre avis, I 
stick to your advice. 

Yous ne devez pas vous en 
tenir a si pen de chose. 
you ought not to he satis- 
Jied with such a trifle, j 

Tenez-voiis la, et n'en partez i 
pas. stay there ^ and do not \ 
stir from thence. ' 

Quand on est bien, il fant s'y ' 
tenir, 7vhen one is well, 
he mnst not think of 
changing. 

Tenez-Yous en repos, le ciuiet. 

Les graces se tiennent par ia 
main, the graces go hand- 
in-hand together, 

II ne saurait se tenir de parler, 
he cannot hold his tongue. 

L'assemblee se tiendra a Lon- 
dres, the meeting will le 
held in London. 

Des qu'il apprit cela, il se 
tint perdu, as soon as he 
learned that, he looked 
upon himself as undone . 

II se tient les cotes de rire. 



he splits his sides witli 
laughing. 
Fr. S"il est bien qu'il s'y 
tienne, if he is well off., 
let him keey so. 

TIREIi, I' a. To draw ; indl, 
p)luck^ wrench ; draw out, 
pull out, taJce out ; draw off] 
pull off, taJce off, suck, milk ; 
reap, receive, gather, ohtain; 
exa ct, re q u ire, de m a n d; draw 
(a line or figure) ; extract, 
discharge, flre, shoot, shoot 
ttf^ '^'i '#"; P^'^-'i^ off] cast ; 
wiredraw (gold). 

— Tepee, to drarc, flght one 

with a sword. 

— son epee du fourreau, to 

unsheathe one's sword, 
Tirer des armes, to fence. 

— en bas, to pull down, 

— de I'eau, to draw water, 

— du sang, to let hlood. 

— une Tache, to milk a cow. 

— ses bottes, to pull off one's 

hoots. 
■ — un homme de prison, to get 
one out of prison, 

— quelqu'un de la boue, de 

la poussiere, to raise one 
from the dirt or dust, 

— quelqu'un d'errem^, to un- 
; deceive one. 

— vanite d'une chose, to he 

proud of a thing. 

— du profit, de rutilite d'une 

chose, to draw profit hy 
a thing, profit hy it. 

— parti de quelqu'un, de 

quelque chose, to make 
an advantage of one, or 
of a thing. 

— raison, satisfaction, d'une 

injure, to obtain satisfac- 



222 



IDIOMATIC VEEBS. 



tion or reparation for an I 
injury, 
Tirer vengeance, to he re- \ 



— une somme en ligne de 

compte, to 'put any sum 
into an account. 

— une lettre de change siir 

quelqu'un, to draio a hill 
of exchange upon one, 

— au cordeau, to draw in a 

straight line. 

— la quintessence d'une af- 

faire, to make the most of 
an afair, 

— une personne au naturel, 

to draw one to the life, 

— au-del^, to out shoot. 

— • en I'air, to fire in the air. 

— au blanc, to fire at a marJc. 

— un feu d'artifice, to let off 

fireworks. 

— au sort, a la courte paille, 

to draw or cast lots, draw 
cuts, 

— du vin, une liqueur au 

clair; [fig.] une affaire 
au clair, to rach, refine, 
wine, a liquor; clear up 
a husiness. 
On ne pent pas — d'argent 
de cet homme-la, one 
canH get money out of 
that maii^s hands. 

— pied or aile d'une chose, to 

get some advantage from 
a thing either hy hook or 
hy crook. 

Cette riviere tire sa source 
d'une telle montagne,^Aaif 
river takes its rise from 
such a mountain. 

On n'a tire que quatre mille 
exemplaires de ce livre, 
they have only worked off 



four thousand copies of 

this hook. 
Pr. Tirer les vers du nez a 

quelqu'un, to pump a 

thing out of one, 
Pr. lis en sont aux couteaux 

tires, they are at daggers 

drawn. 
Pr. Tirer le diable par la 

queue, to he hard put to 

it for a livelihood. 
Pr. — son epingle du jeu, to 

slip 07ie^s neck out of the 

collar, 
Pr, — les marrons du feu avec 

la patte du chat, to make 

a cat^s-paw of one. 
Pr, II faut qu'il tire bien la 

courroie pour aller jus- 

qu'au bout de I'an, he 

must take pains to make 

hoth ends meet. 
Tirer, vn. To go, 

— de long, to scamper away, 

take to ove!s heels. 

— a sa fin, to he almost finish- 

ed; [fig.] he dying. 

— sur quelqu'un — [fig.J ^^ 

hanter one, 

— ^ cartouche sur quelqu'un 

[fig.], to speak very ill of 

one. 
— - sur, to incline to. 
Cette pierre tire sur le vert, 

that stone is greenish, or 

inclines to green. 
De quel cote tirez-vous? ^uhat 

way do you go? 
Cela tire a consequence, that 

may he attended with good 

or serious co7isequences. 
La maladie — , or traine en 

longueur, it is a lingering 

illness. 
Son fusil vint malheureuse- 



IDIOMATIC YEBBS. 



22^ 



ment a tirer, his gun un- 
luckily went of\ 
Cette corde tire, this rope is 
very tight. 

TOMBER, vn. To fall, fall 
down^ tumble^ tumble down; 
drop^ drop down; come^ 
light, happen; come down; 
[said of the wind,] cease, 
abate; descend; becor/ie the 
property of; be overthrown, 
fall on, concern; sin; fall 
to decay; fall into contempt, 
he despised, lose ones repu- 
tation. 

— a terre, to fall to theground. 

— malade, to be taken ill, 

— en defaillance, to faint away, 
'— dii haut mal, to have epi- 
leptic fits. 

— raide mort, to fall down 

dead, 

— en enfance, to become 

childish. 

— en ruine, to fall to decay. 

— sur les ennemis, to fall on 

the enemy. 

— dans le sens, dans le senti- 

ment de quelqu'un, to 
agree with one in opinion, 

— d'accord, to agree to (a 

thing). 

— en partage, to fall to one!s 

lot. 
Toutes les dents lui sont tom- 

bees, he has lost all his 

teeth. 
Les cheveux me tombent, all 

my hair comes off. 
La neige, la pluie, &c., tombe 

or impersonally, il tombe 

de la neige, de la pluie, 

&c., it snows, it rains, Sc. 
II faut laisser tomber cela, we 



or you TMcst let that drop 
or blow over, 

Cela tombe sous le sens, ihafs 
a palpable case, 

Faire tomber la conversation 
sur quelque chose,2^o bring 
a thing into conversation, 

Le vent est tombe, the wind 
has fallen, 

Le jour tombe, or il se fait 
nuit, it grovjs dark, 

Ses cheveux lui tombent sur 
les epaules, herhair hangs 
upon her shoulders. 

La nouvelle piece est tomb^e 
a plat, the new play was 
a complete failure. 

La conversation tombe, con- 
versation flags. 

Pr. Tomber de son haut, des 
nues, to be amazed at any- 
thing. 

Pr. Les bras me tomberent, / 
was thunderstruck at it, 

Pr. II semble tomber des 
nues, he looks as if he had 
dropped from the clouds. 

Pr. — de fievre en chaud mal, 
to fall out of the frying- 
pan into the fire, 

TOUCHER, va. and n. To 
touch; feel, handle, lay one's 
hand on; receive; border on, 
be next, adjoining or con- 
tiguous to ; reach ; strike, 
tap ; express ; affect, move, 
go near one's heart, win; 
play upon (a musical instru- 
ment); touch or try (metals) ; 
draw OY paint; express^ re- 
present; speak of (a thing), 
handle (it); concern, affect, 
relate to; be related or alcin 
to; land or arrive at. 



224 



idio:matic yeebs. 



Toucher quelqu'un du coude, I 
du bras, du pied, to touch] 
one vjith the elboiv, the \ 
arm, ov foot. I 

— dans la main de quelqu'un, | 

to give one's hand; shaJce \ 
hands with one. \ 

Touchez-la, 1' affaire est faite, ' 
the business is done, shake ' 
hands. \ 

Faire toucher une chose au' 
doigt et a I'oeil [fig.], to 
make anything pladn. 

— la grosse corde, to touch 

upon the main point or 
chief difficulty of an affair. 

Cast une corde qu'il ne faut 
pas — , one must not touch 
upon that string. 

Faire toucher de I'argent, to 
procure or remit money. 

Je ne veux point — a cet 
argent, I will not hreah 
in upon that money. 

Se laisser — , to relent^ relax. 

J'y touche de la main, / reach 
it with my hand. 

II a touche le blanc, he has 
hit the marJc. 

Nous touchons a Noel, we are 
very near Christmas. 

J'en ai touche quelques mots, 
I have dropped some hints 
on the subject. 

II a touche trois points fort 
importans, he has handled 
three very material points. 

Ce predicateur touche beau- 
coup ses audit eurs, that 
preacher affects his hear- 
ers very much. 

II touche a sa derniere heure, 
his last hour is at hand. 

II ne me touche ni de pres ni 
de loin, he is in no way 
related to me 



Cela ne me touche point, that 
does not concern me. 

II n'a pas Fair d'y toucher, or 
on ne dirait pas qu'il y 
touche, he looks demure 
about it; he is acting 
slyly all the time. 

[At trick-track and draughts,] 
Dame touchee, dame 
jouee ; [at chess], piece 
touchee, piece joueC; if 
you touch a pawn or a 
piece, you must play it. 

TOURNER, va. To turn, 
move round, revolve; turn 
(on a lathe) ; turn (by put- 
ting in a certain position, 
or on a certain side) ; turn 
(by putting or placing the 
upside down); change, cdter; 
spoil, corrupt, mar ; direct, 
convert, bend. 

Tourner une roue, to turn a 
wheel. 

— la tete, to turn one's head. 

— le dos, to fly, run away. 

— les pieds en dedans, en de- 

hors, to turn one's toes in 
or out. 

— une personne a son gre, to 

ma/nag e one as one pleases. 

— un homme de tons les sens, 

to pump one every v^ay. 

— bien un vers, to give a good 

turn to a verse. 

— une carte, to turn up, face 

a card. 

— bride, to ride bach. 

— tout en bien, en mal, to 

put a good or bad con- 
struction on all things, 

— les choses, a son avantage, 

to turn things to one's 
advantage, make the best 
of them. 



IDIOMATIC VEEBS. 



225 



Tourner quelqu'un en ridicule, 
to make one ridiculous. 

— une ch(ise en raillerie, to 

make a jest of a thing^ 
jest or droll upon it. 

— casaque, to he a turncoat. 
11 tourne bien un compliment, 

he gives a good turn to a 
compliment. 

La fortune lui a tourne le dos, 
fortune has deserted him. 

II tourne coeur [impersonally], 
hearts are trumps. 

Pr. Tournez la medaille, turn 
the tables novj. 

Tourner, vn. To turn, move 
round^ have a circular 
onotioa; go here and there; 
turn (by moving the face 
to another quarter) ; 
change its colour (as fruit 
does when it begins to 
ripen); he spoiled; change 
to acid (as milk) ; be 
brought eventually. 

— de cote et d'autre, to turn 

to and fro. 

— autour du pot [to hesitate 

in telli^ or doing what 
can be told or done at 
once], to beat about the 
bush. 

La tete me tourne, my head 
is giddy. 

La tete lui a tourne, his brains 
are turned; he is puffed 
up with his good fortune, 

Cela tournera mal, that will 
come to no good. 

La chose a tourne autrement 
qu'on ne pensait,^Ae thing 
has taken a different turn 
from what was expected. 

La sauce est tournee, tM sauce 
is running to oil. 



Le vent a tourn6, the wind has 
shifted about. 

TRAYERSER, va. To go or 

travel through; cross, pass 
over; go or run through 
(anything); traverse, cross, 
lay athwoM ; [fig.] thwart 
with obstacles, cross. 

— les desseins de quelqu'un. 

or — quelqu'un dans ses 
desseins [fig.], to thwart 
one in his plans. 

Cet homme me traverse en 
tout, that ma.n thvmrts me 
in everything. 

La pluie a traverse mon man- 
teau, the rain has soaked 
my cloak. 

Un coup de mousquet lui tra- 
versa le corps, a musket- 
shot v:ent through his 
body. 

Traversa, vn. To cross, lay 
athivart another thing. 

Un chemin qui traverse, a 
cross-road. 

TROUYER, va. To find; 
find, out, discover; meet 
with, fcdl upon ; hit on by 
chance; remark, observe; in- 
vent; think, declare. 

— un tresor, to find a treasure. 

— un secret, to find out a 

secret. 

— a manger, to get something 

to eat. 

— a dire, a redire, to find 

fault vjith. 

— bon, to approve, think fit. 

— mauvais, to disapprove, 

dislike, take ill. 
Aller — quelqu'un, to go to 



Q 



226 



IDIOMATIC YERBS. 



one, go to see him, wait 
upon him. 

Comment le trouvez-vous ? 
how do you like it ? 

Je trouve cela bon, je trouve 
que cela est bon, I like 
that ; 1 think that good ; 
that seems good to me; 1 
take it to he good. 

On n'en trouve plus, there is 
no such thing to he had. 

Pr. Qui bien fera, bien trou- 
vera, do well and have 
well. 

SE — , w. To meet, he found; 
go or repair to, he in or 
at^ he present ; find one^ s 
self, he; prove, he found, 
appear. 

11 se trouverent au rendez- 
vous, they met at the ap- 
pointed place. 

Je m'y trouverai, 1 will go 
thither^ I will he there. 

Me trouvanthierdansce quar- 
tier, happening yesterday, 
to he in thatneighhourhood. 

Se — mal, to he ill, find one's 
self ill; faint. 

— bien, to he well. 

— mieux, to he hetter, fitnd 

ooze's self hetter. 

— bien de quelqu'un, de quel- 

que chose, to he very well 

satisfied with somehody or 

something. 
Je me trouve bien d'un tel 

regime, I find my self much 

hetter for such a diet. 
On se trouve bien de vivre 

sobrement, it is heneficial 

to he teraperate in eating 

and drinking, 
Je m'en serais tres-mal trouve, 

/ should have fared hadly 

hy it. 



Cela s'est trouve veritable, 
that was found true; that 
proved true. 

II se trouva que, it happened 
that, it appeared that. 

YALOIR, va. and n. To be 
worth, he good or woHh., he 
of some value, he valuable ; 
stand for, he good for, be as 
good as; be worth, yield, 

— son prix, to he worth some- 

thing. 

— mieux, to be better. 

Ne rien — , to he good for no- 
thing, he worth nothing. 

Faire — une terre, to improve 
an estate. 

Faire — une terre par ses 
mains, to farm ov cultivate 
one's own estate one's self. 

Faire — sa marchandise, to set 
off one's wares; [fig.] 
make the most of what one 
says or does. 

Faire — une raison, to urge 
or press a reason or an 
argument. 

Faire — son droit, to prosecute 
one's right, make good 
one's title. 

Se faire — , to keep up one's 
importance; put one's self 
forward. 

II releve de maladie, les ra- 
gouts ne lui valent rien, 
he is just recovered f'om 
an illness, high-seasoned 
dishes are not proper for 
him. 

Au moins cela vaut-il bien la 
peine de I'essayer, at least 
it is worth while to try. 

II ne vaut pas la peine qu'on 
lui reponde, he is not 
worth answering. 



IDIOMATIC VERBS. 



227 



II ne fait rien qui vaille, he 
does nothing right. 

Donner votre placet, vaille 
que vaille, give your pe- 
tition at all events, 

Cette terre vaut trois mille 
.livres sterling de rente, 
that estate is worth three 
thousand pounds a-year. 

Deux maisons valant cin- 
quante mille francs, two 
houses worth fifty thou- 
sand francs, 

Cela vaut fait, it is as good as 
done. 

Autant vaut, as good as if it 
were so. 

Cela ne vaut rien pour notre 
ami, that bodes no good 
to our friend. 

Vous valez votre pesant d'or, 
you are worth your weight 
in gold. 

Ft. Chaque chose vaut son 
prix, chacun vaut son 
prix, everything or every- 
one is good for something. 

Pr, Le jeu ne vaut pas la 
chandelle, it is not worth 
while; it does 7iot quit the 
cost. 

Ft. Un averti en vaut deux, 
forewarned., forearmed. 

Fr. Monsieur vaut bien ma- 
dame, madame vaut bien 
monsieur, he is as good 
as she. 

Fr. Tant vaut I'homme, tant 
vaut sa terre, an estate is 
worth ivhat the possessor's 
industry makes it. 

Fr. Un tiens vaut mieux que 
deux tu I'auras, a cottage 
in possession is better than 
a kingdom in reversion. 



YENIR, vn. To come; he 
coming; go^ he going; reach, 
arrive at; proceed; issue, he 
born or descended, spring; 
chance, fall, fall out, hap- 
pen; grow, thrive. 

— au devant de, to come and 

meet. 

— a bout de, to succeed in. 

— au fait, a la question, to 

come to the point or ques- 
tion. 

— au monde, to be born, come 

into the luorld. 

— a parler de quelque chose, 

to chance to speak of 
someth ing. 

— a bout de ses desseins, to 

compass one's end. 

— a bout d'une chose, de faire 

une chose, to bring a 
business about, master it. 

— a bout de ses ennemis, to 

get the better of one's ene- 
mies. 

Le voila qui vient, he is com- 
ing. 

II lui ordonna de le venir 
joindre, he ordered him 
to come and meet him. 

II Ta fait — de Paris, he has 
sent for him from Faris. 

Cela va et vient, sometimes we 
have good business, at 
other times we have none 
at all, we do nothing. 

Je ne ferai qu'aller et venir, 
I will not stay, I shall be 
hack again presently. 

II faut le voir — , we must see 
what he can do, what he 
aims at. 

II lui vint une grosse fievre, a 
great fever came upon him. 

II vint une bourrasque, une 



228 



IDIOMATIC VEEBS. 



tempete, there arose a 
temjiest, a storm. 

Tout lui vi ent a souhait, every- 
thing succeeds according 
to his wishes. 

II me vint une pensee, a 
thought came into my 
head. 

II lui vint en tete, dans I'es- 
prit, it came into his head. 
or thoughts; the fancy 
took him ; he fancied. 

C'est un beau venez-y-voir, 
a ^fine thing, truly! a 
pretty thing, indeed ! 

Ce mot vient de celui-la, this 
rvord is derivedfrom that. 

li s'en est alle comme il est 
venu, he had his lahour 
for his pains. 

S'en — , to come, go away, 

Nous nous en vinmes en- 
semble, we came away to- 
gether. 

En venir aux mains^ to come 
to Mows, 

— aux mains avec Tennemi, 

to engage the enemy. 

— aux extremites, to use ex- 

tremities. 

— aux voies de fait, ^ la vio- 

lence, to use violence. 

— au fait et au prendre, to 

come to the push. 

— aux reproches, aux injures, 

to go so far as to revile one, 
or as to abuse 07ie another, 
or call one another names. 

— a son bonneur, to come off 

with honour. 
II en vint jusqu'a le menacer, 

he carried things so far 

as to threaten him. 
II en faut venir la, we must 

come to that at last. 



Faire venir, to raise. 

— venir du ble dans un pays, 

to make corn grow in a 

country. 
S'il venait a mourir, should he 

happen to die. 
Quand il vint a parler, when 

he began to speah. 
D'ou vient que vous faites 

cela ? what makes you do 

so? 
II vient de me parler, he has 

just spoken to me. 
Je viens de le quitter, I have 

left him just now. 
Get arbre vient bien, that tree 

thrives well. 
Les si^cles a venir, future 

ages. 
[Tbe following pbrases are 

proverbial :] Faire venir 

I'eau au moulin, to bring 

grist to the mill. 
Apr^s la pluie vient le beau 

temps, after a storm comes 

a calm; after sorrow 

comes joy. 
Un malheur ne vient jamais 

seul, one misfortune comes 

on the back of another. 
Tout vient a point K qui pent 

attendre, patience brings 

all things abotit. 
Ce qui vient de la flt^te, s'en 

retourne au tambour, 

lightly come, lightly go. 

YIDEE, va. To empty ; clear, 
evacuate, make empty, void; 
[fig.] determine, decide. 

— un sac, un tonneau, &c., to 

empty a sack or cask. 

— une cbambre, une maison, 

to clear a room or house. 

— le royaume, la province, to 



IDIOMATIC VEEBS. 



229 



avoid, leave, ov get out of 
the country or kingdovi. 
Yider les prisons, to make a 
jail-delivery. 

— une volaille, to draw a fowl, 

— du poisson, to gutjish. 

— un canon, to dore a cannon. 

— un etang, to drain a i^ond. 

— un differend, to put an end 

to a dispute. 

— un proems, to determine a 

lawsuit. 

VIVRE, vn. To live ; de alive; 
continue in life; main- 
tain one's self; pass life in a 
certain manner; lead a 
sort of life; deliave, carry 
one's sef ; exist, submit. 
lis ne vivent que de racines, 
de legumes, they live or 
feed only ujyon roots or 
pulse, or tipon vegetables. 
II vit mal, he fares hit scaii- 

tily. 
II fait cher vivre a Londres, it 
is dear living in London. 

— a table d'hote, to eat at an 

ordina/ry. 

— de regime, to diet one's 

self 
Faire — , to keep, feed, main- 
tain. 

— de son travail, to live by 

one's laljour. 

— d'aumones, to live upon 

charity. 

— d'emprunt, to live by bor- 

rowing. 

— en pension, to boa.rd. 

— d'industrie, to live by one's 

wits. 

— d'esperance, to live in hope. 

— en prince, to live like a 

prince. 



Vivre en homme de bien, to 
live like a good or honest 
man. 

— bien, mal avec quelqu'un, 

to be upon good or bad 
terms with one. 

Etre las de — , to be tired of 
life. 

Le savoir-vivre, good breeding, 
manners. 

II ne sait pas vivre, he has no 
manners. 

Apprendre ^ — , to learn man- 
ners. 

Je lui apprendrai bien a — , 
Til teach him manners. 

Qui vive? who goes or is there ? 

[Used in camps and recon- 
noitring ; in towns they 
say, cpai va la ?] 

Etre sur le qui-vive, to keep a 
sharp look-02it ; be very 
attentive to what is doing 
or going on. 

II faut toujours etre sur le qui- 
vive avec lui, one must be 
very guarded with him. 

Pr. Vivre au jour la journee, 
to live from hand to mouth. 

Pr, Chacun vit a sa mode, 
every man to his liking. 

Voir, va. and n. To see; 
perceive by the eye ; look at, 
behold; observe; find, be 
sensible of ; consider, ex- 
amine, remark ; discover, 
descry ; get acquainted 
with; visit; wait upon; 
inspect, oversee, have an 
eye upon ; taste, feel, 

— le jour, to be born. 

II n'est pas digne de — le jour, 

he don't deserve to live, 
II veut tout — par lui-meme, he 



230 



IDIOMATIC VERBS. 



insists upon seeing every- 
thing with his own eyes. 

Voir de loin, — bien loin, to 
see at a great distance. 

A le — vous le prendriez pour 
un honnete homme, hy 
Ms look you would take 
him to le an honest man. 

Venir — quelqu'un [fig.], to 
see what one would he at; 
see his design, 

Faire — , to let see, show, dis- 
cover. 

Se faire — , to show one's self. 

AUer — quelqu'un, to pay one 
a visit, call upon one. 

II n'a rien a — sur moi, he has 
nothing to do with me. 

Je I'ai vu de mes propres 
yeux, de mes deux yeux, 
I have seen it with my 
two eyes. 

Ma maison voit sur son jardin, 
my house looks over his 
garden. 

On n'a jaroais rien vu de pa- 
reil, the like was never 
seen lefore. 

Si vous ne le croyez, allez-y 
voir, if you won't helieve 
me., go and see for your- 
self or go and satisfy 
yourself. 

Faites cela pour voir, do that, 
and mark the end of it. 

C'est une chose a voir, that's 
a thing worth seeing, or 
to he seen. 

J'ai vu Vheure que, le moment 
qu'il allait se casser Je 
cou, he has been like to 
hreak his neck. 

He bien, je verrai, well, 1 
shall consider over it. 

Nous en avons vu bien d'au- 



tres, we are not to he 
scared hy an owl, we were 
not horn in a wood. 

II n'a jamais rien vu que par 
le trou d'une bouteille, he 
knows very little of the 
world. 

C'est un beau venez-y-voir [in 
irony], a Jlne raree-show 
indeed I 

II ne voit personne, he keeps 
company with nohody. 

Ce n'est pas un homme a voir, 
he is not a man fit to keep 
company with. 

Yoyez a nous faire souper, let 
us have supper. 

Yoyez aux ouvriers, see to the 
workmen; take care of 
them. 

Pr. Faire voir du pays a 
quelqu'un, to show one 
Jine sport, find one work 
enough. 

Pr. II a vu le Ipup, he has heen 
in many dangers; he 
knows the world very well. 

Pr. II ne voit pas plus loin 
que son nez, he is short- 
sighted; hehasno forecast. 

VOULOIR, va. and n. To 
will, desire, wish, ask for, he 
willing; have a mind, in- 
tend; command, order, hid; 
consent, agree, suffer; re- 
quire, need; [said of ina- 
nimate things] will. 
Ce bois ne veut pas bruler, 
this wood will not hum, 
or won't hum. 
II veut partir demain, he in- 
tends or has a mind to set 
out to-morrow, 
II veut que vous partiez sur 



IDIOMATIC VEKBS. 



231 



I'heure, he will have you 
to go immediately. 

II le fera quand il voudra, heHl 
do it when he pleases. 

Yeux-tu que je te decouvre la 
cause de tous ces desor- 
dres 1 shall I lay l)efore 
thee the occasion of all 
these disorders ? 

Je le veux ainsi, / will have 
it so. 

Pour 6tre vertueux il ne faut 
que vouloir, to become vir- 
tuous requires only a sin- 
cere desire of heing so. 

Que voulez-vous ? what do 
you want ? 

Que voulez-vous ! what could 
Ido! 

Que voulez-vous dire % what 
do you mean ? 

Que veut dire ce mot 1 what is 
the meaning of that ivord? 

Vouloir du bien or du mal a 
quelqu'un, to wish well 
or ill to one. 



II vous en veut, he hears malice 
against you. 

II en veut a cette charge, he 
has that employment in 
his eye. 

A qui en voulez-vous par ce 
discours-la ? what do you 
mean hy that discourse? 
against whom is that dis- 
course levelled? 

A qui en voulez-vous ? whom 
have you a mind to speak 
to? whom doyouMamefor 
it? who has offended you? 

Dieu le veuilie ! God grant it! 
would to God it were so ! 

Puisque mon sort le voulait 
ainsi, si7ice my fate had 
so ordained. 

Je veux que cela soit ; je veux 
bien que cela soit, I grant 
it, suppose it were so. 

Oui, jele veux bien, yes, with 
all my heart. 

Que lui voulez-vous ? what is 
your business with him? 



THE END. 



